Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Politbureau Member Leila Khaled visited HDP MPs on hunger strikes Dersim Dag, Tayip Temel and Murat Sarisac after her visit to DTK Co-chair Leyla Guven, who has been on a hunger strike against the isolation in Imrali for 159 days. Leila Khaled visited the HDP provincial offices and spoke with the MPs.

Khaled said there are similar practices in place in Palestine and Turkey and added that the hunger strikes launched in prisons against such practices have been done before in the past as well.

“HUNGER STRIKERS’ MESSAGE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD”

Khaled said there were hunger strikes in prisons during another visit she made to Turkey in the past: “They demanded freedom. Hunger strike itself is a call for freedom. I met with Leyla Guven. She is a strong woman. I felt a responsibility towards her. Leyla Guven is putting her life on the line to protect her comrades and to protest the injustice. She is doing it for Mr. Ocalan in particular and her message has spread throughout the world.”

Khaled said the public supports the hunger strikers and their demands: “You and Leyla Guven all went on hunger strikes and your people support you. Various organizations throughout the world support you too. No human being can accept these human rights violations. They are messing with the people in prisons.”

“THE GOVERNMENT MUST HEAR THIS VOICE”

Leila Khaled protested the government’s silence in the face of these protests and said:

“The government did not respond, but at least the parliament should have. I hope your parliament will announce that they are against these violations. You are members of the parliament, I am as well. We have many MPs in Israeli prisons. So, our struggle is common. We must continue this struggle, but we need to change our tools. I hope the government hears your voice. All of my people salute you. You speak with us and the whole world through your hunger. I wish you good health and I hope you prevail in your struggle.”

TEMEL: OUR FATE IS COMMON

MP on hunger strike Tayip Temel said they were happy that Leila Khaled’s visited.

Temel said: “The Kurds know Leila Khaled very well- The Kurdish people know you rstruggle and  your long winded struggle for freedom. In many ways we share a common fate. You visiting us and Leyla Guven has undoubtedly given us morale and strength. You have added your voice to ours.”

“ENDING THE ISOLATION WILL SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS”

Temel stressed that they are fighting to have the existing law implemented in Turkey: “The most effective and most important actor in Kurdish politics has been isolated. This aggravates the issues in Turkey and deepens the genocide against the Kurds. This delays the solution to issues and deepens the war. As such, ending the isolation means the solution of many issues. With this protest, it has been seen that the Kurds as a people have been isolated.”

“MOST MASSIVE HUNGER STRIKE”

Temel stressed that their demands are compatible with the law: “The most massive hunger strike in the history of turkey continues. We know the government and the parliament are apathetic, but we also know that we will prevail. In Turkey, in the Middle East, anywhere in the world, the peoples who are righteous, the peoples who are legitimate will prevail. Including the people of Palestine.”