Life against Isolation Platform was established with the slogan ‘give voice to the resistance’ in the French city of Strasbourg and the pledge to promote protests against the AKP-MHP fascism.

The Platform was announced in a press conference attended by representatives of the Democratic Kurdish Society Congress (DKTM), ATIK-Strasbourg, DIF-Strasbourg, France Partisan and Strasbourg Alevi Cultural Center (AKM).

Yüksel Koç, co-chair of the European Democratic Kurdish Society Congress (KCDK-E), who has been on hunger strike for 90 days, also joined the press conference.

Mehmet Kılınç, speaking on behalf of the Platform, said: “In this city there was already big sensitivity. As revolutionary democratic institutions we have claimed the hunger strike as best as we could.”

Kılınç said that protests would be organised in order to increase the resistance against isolation.

Actions to increase resistance

HDP Hakkari MP Güven launched the hunger strike resistance against isolation on 8 November. Since then hundreds of prisoners and activists all over Turkey, Kurdistan, Europe and even Canada joined the hunger strike.

Kılınç underlined that the hunger strike in Strasbourg has left 89 days behind.

"Every day now, - said Kılınç - we could receive bad news as the health of the hunger strikers gets worse. Which is why to remain silent is not an option and we need to raise our voice.”

Koç: We chose to act

Co-chair of the KCDK-E, Yüksel Koç, welcomed the establishment of the Platform and underlined that isolation is against all peoples.

Koç also stressed that it is important for everyone, Kurds and Europeans alike, socialists and democrats to support the hunger strike.

Koç said that the activists could choose to live a non-life and accept isolation or to take action. “We chose the second option”.

Call on people

Koç remarked that it is important for everyone with a conscience to support this struggle against fascism.

Statement of establishment of the Life against Isolation Platform

In the written statement given to the press the Life against Isolation Platform wrote: “Against the all-out attack of the fascist state, it is imperative to step up the struggle together. In trying to silence every protesting opposition, the fascist state continues to fill the prisons with opposition writers, academics, students, as well as patriotic and revolutionaries. They have imposed isolation on the entire society. It is in order to stand against this attack that we revolutionary/democratic institutions in Strasbourg, have established the Life against Isolation Platform.”

Call to join rally on 17 March

The statement called on everyone to join the rally organised on 17 March 2019, Sunday. “We invite all our people to this march and rally and to watch out for further actions being planned.”