As part of the global campaign demanding freedom for Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question, the alternating hunger strike launched by PKK and PAJK prisoners in Turkish prisons continues on its 88th day.
Members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and PAJK (Party of Free Women in Kurdistan) imprisoned in Turkey went on hunger strike on 27 November in support of the international campaign "Freedom for Öcalan, A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question". The hunger strike carried out in alternating groups started on 27 November, the founding day of the PKK, and was set to continue until 15 February, the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
In a statement on 12 February, Kaya announced that: “We have extended our alternating hunger strike action in order to end the isolation imposed on our leader. We want everyone to know that we will enter a new phase on 15 February and until after the elections to be held on 31 March. We declare to the public that if the isolation on our Leader continues after the election, we will take our action to the next level and continue until we get results."
According to the prisoners' representative, Deniz Kaya, the hunger strike continues “with great determination, with the morale and strength we receive from our Leader's Imrali Resistance, the successful revolutionary operations carried out by our heroic guerrilla, the 'Justice Vigil' actions initiated by our families and the resistance developed by our people everywhere."
Kaya stated: “We call on all our people, democratic institutions and friends to increase the resistance within the scope of the international initiative. We call on all our people and friends to participate in the election activities in order to prevent the institutionalisation of fascism. Today is the day to break the isolation in Imrali, dismantle the Kurdish genocide policy and salute the People's Freedom Spring."
