A press conference was held in the HDP Cankaya district offices on the 58th day of Leyla Guven’s hunger strike demanding an end to the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Intellectuals, writers and poets gathered in a hall with a banner that read “Speak up for Leyla Guven - Let there be no deaths”, in a show of solidarity with Leyla Guven.

HDP Ankara Province Co-chair Huseyin Gevher gave a speech and offered condolences for Leyla Guven’s mother Cevriye Guven and said, “We will follow the voice rising from prisons, and the resistance will prevail.”

Gevheri added: “Leyla Guven said the aggravated isolation imposed upon Mr. Ocalan must be lifted at once and his health and safety must be ensured so the conflict atmosphere can end, and that he must be able to meet with his lawyers and family, and with this she started an indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike in line with those who said they loved life enough to die for it in the Diyarbakir Prison. Leyla Guven’s utterly humane and ethical demand that is entirely in line with arrestees’ and convicts’ rights was met with disinterest by the Ministry of Justice, which is completely unacceptable. We as intellectuals, artists, scientists and democratic institutions’ representatives would like to add our voice to Leyla Guven’s demand rising from the prison.”

Writer Fikret Baskaya said the powerful remain still because they don’t know their own power: “The fundamental issue of humanity arises from the conflict between the weakness of the powerful and the strength of the powerless,” said Baskaya and continued: “This situation is able to continue due to ideological slavery and voluntary servitude. This is at the root of why people are insensitive when it comes to certain issues. The strong are not aware of their strength. People remain insensitive in the face of the exercise of the most natural rights and fail to express the necessary reaction. The demand in question here is extremely rightful and innocent. We can’t remain silent in the face of it. I am calling for awareness for everybody on this matter.”

Poet Mehmet Ozer said isolation is an attack against human dignity and human rights: “Objecting isolation is a humane and existential matter. We support our friend Leyla’s demand.”

Fikret Aslan spoke in the name of the Emek (Labor) Party and said it is extremely important that Leyla Guven’s call be heeded.

IHD (Human Rights Association) Ankara Chapter Co-chair Fatih Kanat said the isolation imposed by Turkey is unlawful and violates the treaties the country has signed.

Kanat said, “The path to a solution to the Kurdish issue is through Leyla Guven’s demand. So, this matter should be resolved at once before there are any deaths.”