Julie Ward MEP vists Leyla Guven and Sabiha Temikzan in Diyarbakir.

Solidarity, resistance and strength: Peoples Democratic Party MP, Leyla Güven ended her 200-day hunger strike on May 26. Güven had been consuming only sugar and salt solutions and vitamins. Her core demand that the Turkish authorities lift the aggravated isolation of Abdullah Ocalan was achieved. Ocalan has now had three visits from his legal team, the first for eight years.

Looking back at the hunger strike by Hilal Seven : Kurds are dying on Hunger strike for democracy.

As we move onto a new post-hunger strike phase , we look back at the words of Hilal Seven, written on 16 May when Leyla Guven was on day 190 of her hunger strike.

Hilal Seven

London/ 16 May

 According to the Human Rights Association 2983 prisoners are on hunger strike in 90 prisons in Turkey since first of March 2019. Most of the hunger strikers are Kurdish and they are political prisoners.

It was then-imprisoned Leyla Güven, a HDP MP, who first started the hunger strike on November 8 in 2018. Inspired by Leyla Güven, the action spread to other prisons and people from all over the world joined it. İmam Şiş, a 32-year-old Kurdish man from Newport began is hunger strike on December 16. Three more people from London are also on hunger strike since March 14: Nahide Zengin, Mehmet Sait Yılmaz, Ali Poyraz. Continue reading “Looking back at the hunger strike by Hilal Seven : Kurds are dying on Hunger strike for democracy.”

The hunger strike is over and a new chapter in Kurdish struggle can begin

27 May 2019|Peace in Kurdistan

After 200 days, HDP MP Leyla Guven,  along with other Kurdish MPs and thousands of Kurdish prisoners in Turkey, have ended their hunger strikes in response to the breaking of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan’s isolation.

In ending her hunger strike, Leyla Guven, whose action in November 2018 started a mass movement, said the strike had achieve its immediate demands. She went on to declare that the struggle would continue by other means.

Continue reading “The hunger strike is over and a new chapter in Kurdish struggle can begin”

Gildernew meets Kurdish hunger strikers 

For immediate release
9 May 2019 
 
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 today, 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. 

Continue reading “Gildernew meets Kurdish hunger strikers “

UK to raise issue of Kurdish hunger strikers with Turkey

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/ff4f6ae4-6480-41fa-a058-4c99362ab956

Kurdistan 24 reports today

Continue reading “UK to raise issue of Kurdish hunger strikers with Turkey”

Statement from Leyla Guven and other HDP deputies:

The statement of the HDP deputies said the following;
“After eight years, Mr. Öcalan has had a meeting with his lawyers. This meeting is historic and of great importance. However, it also brings into question “In what kind of a country are we living that we feel happy over a visit of lawyers that has been arbitrarily and unlawfully prohibited so far?” True, we are all experiencing a bittersweet happiness. Bodies have been melting away to make sure that this meeting takes place. 8 young people have ended their lives for this visit to take place. Our mothers are dragged on the ground every day in order for this meeting to take place, in order for this state to implement its own laws, in order for laws to be equal for everyone.

Continue reading “Statement from Leyla Guven and other HDP deputies:”