Members of European Confederation of Oppressed Migrants (AVEG-KON), European Socialist Women's Union (SKB), Young Struggle and Prisoners' Voice Platform started a 3-day hunger strike in Cologne, Germany today in order to give voice to the prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Turkey and Kurdistan for 68 days and to support their demands.

Socialists from Turkey have also started three-day solidarity hunger strikes in Paris, Basel and London today.

The hunger strike action is carried out in a tent set up in front of the Cologne Cathedral. KON-MED (the umbrella organization of the Kurdish diaspora in Germany) Co-Chair Ruken Akça, politician Nursel Aydoğan and activist Şenge Kahraman visited the activists in Cologne and expressed their support.

Speaking here, Ruken Akça stated that the 3-day solidarity actions initiated by the socialist activists were important and valuable and said, "The Turkish state is in chaos due to its insistence on war, massacres against the Kurdish people and leaving the Kurdish question unresolved.In the Middle East, wars are escalating day by day, and the problems are coming to the surface. We appeal to everyone who is democratic, socialist and in favour of human rights. We must fight hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, for a democratic life in Turkey and achieve democracy.”

Remarking that all Kurds have been isolated for 25 years in the person of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ruken Akça said: "For more than 2 months, prisoners in Turkey and Kurdistan are on hunger strike. These hunger strikes are for the freedom of the peoples, for democracy and for a solution to the Kurdish question. For this reason, we will continue our struggle wherever we are."

Akça called for participation in the rally to be held in Cologne on 17 February within the scope of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Solution to the Kurdish Question" campaign.

Afterwards, leaflets were distributed and information was given about the 17 February demonstration.