The peoples of Rojava are organising hunger strike actions in support with HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Hakkari deputy and DTK (Democratic Society Congress) co-chair, Leyla Güven, who is on hunger strike for 29 days to protest the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The support actions began in Qamishlo. Under the leadership of PYD (Democratic Union Party) and Kongreya Star, a tent was put up under the slogan “Let's break isolation, destroy fascism, live free with Leader Apo”.

On Thursday, a group of 75 people began a hunger strike, joining the 70 who had begun fasting on Wednesday.

The next hunger strikes are to be held in Çilaxa and Til Koçer.


The hunger strikers spoke to ANF.


Kongreya Star Qamishlo Canton spokesperson, Ayaan Murad, said: “The Leader is kept in isolation for three years. He is denied any rights. The Imralı system is based on illegalities. We are where we are today thanks to the ideas and project of our leader.”

Murad also stated: “In fact, this isolation is not only imposed on the Leader, but on all of us because we have come to the present with the ideas, philosophy and teachings of the Leader. We know ourselves as both women and Kurds. It is a tremendous success, although it is not completed.”

Support to Leyla Güven

Murad saluted Leyla Güven's honorable action. “Our representative Leyla Güven is our honour. She interpreted the process deeply and began her action taking on a historical responsibility. We need to step up the struggle against isolation. In North and South Kurdistan as well as in Rojava and abroad - Murad said - we will fulfill our responsibility as people and women. Today the hunger strikes are spreading everywhere. We as Kongra Star have made a plan on this.”

‘Until we meet with our leader…’


Murad added: “We are resisting all attacks united as the peoples of Rojava. Today, not only the Kurds and Kurdish women, but all the peoples in Rojava have assumed Öcalan as their leader. They know that the project of the Leader is what we are implementing now here.”

PYD Sharki borough spokesperson, Feyruşe Remedan stated that Öcalan's ideas and philosophy was the most correct answer to this dirty system and this was why the system is imposing the isolation regime on him.

“We, as Qamishlo people and institutions, offer our support and call for participation in the actions. We demand freedom for Leader Apo. Our leader is our honor.

We will resist and act until we see that Mr. Öcalan is living in free conditions among his people.”