A demonstration was staged in Basel on the second day of the 3-day hunger strike started by socialists in support of the hunger strikes of PKK and PAJK prisoners in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan demanding the end of the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan.
Socialists from Turkey started 3-day solidarity hunger strikes in Cologne, Paris, Basel and London on Friday. The hunger strike actions, organised by the European Confederation of Oppressed Migrants (AVEG-KON), Voice of Prisoners Platform (TSP), Socialist Women's Union (SKB) and Young Struggle, demand freedom for all political prisoners and an end to the isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Socialists who continue their action at the BEKSAM (Basel Education Culture and Art Centre) in Basel held a demonstration in Clara Square today.
While the components of the Revolutionary Forces Union (DGB) participated and supported the action against isolation and severe rights violations against prisoners, the photographs of seriously ill prisoners were displayed. After a press statement in German, hunger striker Ali Orak, on behalf of AVEG-KON addressed the crowd.
Drawing attention to the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan and the situation of seriously ill prisoners, Orak said, "As socialists, we will continue to be in action against the inhumane practices that target the will of prisoners, especially the aggravated and severe isolation policies pursued against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan."
Orak criticised the silence of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), the Council of Europe (CoE) and the United Nations (UN) against the isolation, gross violations of rights and the genocidal attacks of the occupying Turkish state in Kurdistan.
A speech was made on behalf of the Democratic Kurdish Community Centre of Basel (CDK-BL), saluting the hunger strike and calling for participation in the long march from Basel to Strasbourg on 10-15 February led by internationalists and the central rally to be held in Cologne, Germany on 17 February.
"Throughout its history, the Turkish state has existed through Kurdish blood and assimilation. Especially in the last 20 years, the fascist AKP-MHP bloc has tried to create a nationalist future through Kurdish massacres, implementing a policy of war against peace. In Turkey, where fascism is in power, human rights violations continue unabated. Prisons are used as torture chambers for elderly and sick prisoners. The isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is the most important indicator of this. This isolation is being carried out to prevent Öcalan's philosophy, paradigm and politics from being a source of inspiration.
A number of prisoners have been on hunger strike since 27 November 2023 and today is the 69th day of their action. We call on the people of Europe and Kurdistan to support the hunger strikes and give voice to the prisoners. We will continue this struggle until the end. We are determined and strong-willed to do so. We take our strength from Mr Öcalan and the political prisoners behind bars. We will continue our protests until the isolation is lifted. Talks with İmralı will bring peace to Turkey, while bloodshed, tears and war will stop."
After the speeches, the activists returned to BEKSAM and continued their hunger strike.
The hunger strike action, which was visited by revolutionary organisations throughout the day, will end on Sunday evening.
