Mehmet Ali Koçak has been on hunger strike in Geneva since 20 February, demanding the end of isolation against  Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

He has joined, together with thousands of prisoners and activists, the hunger strike resistance led by DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkâri MP Leyla Güven.

Koçak is on hunger strike at the Geneva Democratic Kurdish Community Center and his receiving many visitors on a daily basis. 

Among visitors were Solidarite Geneva Canton deputies Pablo Crouchon and Jean Burgmeister who came to express their support and solidarity. 

Koçak: International solidarity must increase

Mehmet Ali Koçak talked to visitors and said that Leyla Güven and Nasır Yağız are leading many prisoners in the hunger strike resistance. 

Underlining the demand of the hunger strikers to remove the isolation on Öcalan, Koçak said: “Our demand is a very human demand. Mr. Öcalan, who is considered as a leader by the people, has been in total isolation for over 3 years. There is no justification for this isolation. At the same time, a great war against the Kurdish people is carried out through this policy.”

Koçak added that international institutions and organizations did not fulfill their duties despite the clear lawlessness., “Today, our friends who are on hunger strike face death, - he said - we know that the Turkish state is not the only responsible of this situation, we believe that the CPT, the Council of Europe and Europe are also responsible.”

Stating that solidarity is important Koçak, expressed satisfaction with the visit. ”We believe that as international solidarity grows, we can break this isolation.” 

Crouchon: Isolation is not acceptable

Solidarite lawmakers Pablo Crouchon and Jean Burgmeister first of all expressed their solidarity to the hunger strikers.

Crouchon then said that the demand of the activists is just and legitimate and added that “Ocalan in fact plays an important role for peace in Turkey. We cannot accept isolation.”

Crouchon criticized the insensitivity of both the Swiss and the European press towards the hunger strikes. “It is important to not keep silent in front of people's death. We must strengthen our solidarity and push Turkey to accept the hunger strikers’ demand.” 

Burgmeister: We will monitor the hunger strike

Jean Burgmeister said that his party will bring the hunger strike to the agenda of both the Geneva canton parliament and the Swiss press and urged the international community to take action to accept the demands of the activists.