Four Kurdish activists Omer Bagdur, Cemal Kobane, Siyar Xelil and Mele Mustafa Tuzak had started hunger strikes in 3 German cities to support the hunger strike launched by DTK Co-chair Leyla Guven, but later decided to combine their hunger strikes and continue in Berlin.

The activists continue their protest in a parked van at the square between the Federal Parliament and the Prime Ministry. Activist Siyar Xelil had been hospitalized yesterday around noon as his health took a turn.

Xelil, on day 69 of his hunger strike, remained in the hospital until the evening for tests and told the doctors he would not accept treatment. Doctors in the Charite Hospital were very attentive to Xelil, who spoke with the medical staff and explained to them why he was laying his body on the line. Xelil said Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan is being treated inhumanely and added that he will not stop his hunger strike until the isolation in Imrali is broken.

“OUR PROTEST WILL CONTINUE UNTIL PRACTICAL STEPS ARE TAKEN”

The doctors said they will write letters to the Turkish Embassy so the hunger strikers wil llive, and tried to convince Xelil to stop. Xelil said he was determined to continue the hunger strike until practical steps are taken.

Xelil was dispatched in the evening and arrived at the location where the other 3 activists were. Xelil was greeted with a flood of visitors, and he said: “We are prepared to do whatever is necessary for Leader Apo. There are friends who resist in the mountains and in the prisons, and we support this resistance by putting our bodies on the line here.”

Former HDP MPs, mayors, city councillors, census members, district administrators, academics, artists and journalists forced into exile continued the vigil they launched in Berlin to draw attention to the hunger strikes. The demonstration in Brandenburger Tor is expected to conclude on Friday.