Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew met hunger strikers in London

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew visited hunger strikers in London demanding the end of isolation against Abdullah Öcalan.

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew has called on the Turkish authorities to release Kurdish political leader Abdullah Öcalan and the thousands of imprisoned Kurdish hunger strikers. 

Speaking after meeting Kurdish hunger strikers in London, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: “I met today with Kurdish political activists who are on hunger strike in London calling for an end to the isolation and the release of Kurdish political leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

Meeting the Kurdish hunger strikers was a humbling and inspiring experience."

Gildernew met with hunger strikers Nahide Zengin and Mehmet Sait Yılmaz, who are on their 57th day of fast. “In 1981 - she said - we valued the international solidarity shown to the Irish hunger strikers and today we once again extended our solidarity to the Kurdish hunger strikers and their supporters. 

This situation cannot go on. The treatment of Kurdish prisoners is inhuman and barbaric." 

The isolation of Abdullah Öcalan said Gildernew "must end and he should be released immediately to advance the peace process in the region.”

Nahide Zengin and Mehmet Sait Yılmaz have gone on hunger strike on 21 March.