AABK to discuss hunger strikes with European Parliament officials

The AABK delegation visited the 14 Kurdish activists on hunger strike in Strasbourg to demand the end of isolation against Abdullah Öcalan.

Erdal Kilickaya, executive of the European Confederation of Alevi Unions (AABK), visited activists in the hunger strike resistance on its 77th day in Strasbourg and said they would raise the issue in the European Parliament.

The AABK delegation included the AABK second president Erdal Kılıçkaya, as well as the Federation of French Alevi Unions (AABF) president of the Northern Region, Muharrem Şahan and executive Veli Güneş.

The AABK executives, who were welcomed by the European Democratic Kurdish Society Congress (KCDK-E) co-chair and hunger striker Yüksel Koç, exchanged information on the recent situation of the activists.

Alevi association to raise hunger strike protest at the EP meetings

Speaking during the visit, AABK second president Erdal Kılıçkaya said that the European Alevis will meet with European Parliament officials on Wednesday (6 March). Following the meeting they will make a press conference in front of the Parliament. Kilickaya said that the main theme in the talks will be the hunger strikes going on around the world and Turkey as well as the arrests in Turkey of many Alevi representatives.

Kılıçkaya reminded that they have been involved in a common struggle with many activists, including Yüksel Koç, who is on hunger strike today. “I hope that we will continue this struggle together in the next process,” he said.

Emphasizing the sanctity of life in Alevi culture, Erdal Kılıçkaya said: “Every life must definitely be lived. Even the slightest pain they will experience will hurt us. Your pain is our pain. I hope a solution would be found soon.”

Isolation is against the whole society

KCDK-E co-chair Yüksel Koç thanked the Alevi institutions for their support, and pointed out that the war that is targeting not only Kurds, but also Alevis, Assyrians and all other peoples started with the deepening of the isolation against Öcalan.

Koç reiterated that the hunger strike carried out by the 14 activists of the Freedom for Öcalan Initiative and all the other hunger strikes have been launched for the free and equal life of the peoples.

Koç underlined the support given to the activists especially from deputies and said: “With our struggle we reminded them of the laws that they use for their own interests.”