HDP MPs on hunger strike in Istanbul

Several HDP MPs have gone on a hunger strike in Istanbul. The MPs pointed out that the isolation against Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan affects everybody.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Saruhan Oluc and Istanbul MPs Huda Kaya, Dilsad Canbaz and Ali Kenanoglu started a 3-day hunger strike in the HDP Istanbul offices.

“THE ISOLATION ISN’T ONLY AGAINST MR. ÖCALAN”

Oluc read the following statement in the name of the MPs:

“Today we are starting a hunger strike to support our friend Leyla Guven and to show solidarity. Leyla Guven is the will of the people of Hakkari. Since the day she was elected to the Parliament, she has been unlawfully imprisoned. She is a member of the parliament, who has immunity. She should have been released immediately so she could partake in legislative activity, but the courts didn’t take the necessary steps. Right now, the local court is wielding power over the judiciary apparatus.

Leyla Guven went on a hunger strike, and this is not about her. She went on a hunger strike to protest the inhumane isolation imposed upon Mr. Öcalan in Imrali since April 4, 2015. Leyla Guven is one of the people who know that this isolation is not just against Mr. Öcalan in Imrali. She knows that this isolation is against the Kurdish people. She knows that the isolation is a severe attack against peace. She knows the isolation is an obstacle on the path to a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. As she knows all these, she has started a hunger strike to end this inhumane and unlawful isolation - an utterly dignified act.

We as the HDP have stated from the start that we would offer solidarity in this action she decided on her own to take. To this end, there are several hunger strikes being organized in various cities for solidarity and support. AS of today, following our group meeting, our Co-chair Pervin Buldan and 10 of our MPs will be going on a hunger strike in the Parliament. There are ongoing hunger strikes in Kurdish provinces. And today, we are starting one in Istanbul.

PROTESTING THE ATTACKS

There was an attack against our friends on hunger strike the other day. The police entered our offices there and detained the hunger strike activists. This is another unlawful and arbitrary act. We are starting this hunger strike to protest this attack as well.

“WE WILL CHANGE THE CONDITIONS THROUGH STRUGGLE”

These are hard times we are living in, but we know something very well: For us, the struggle for peace and democracy is not something that can be stopped, ever. We have seen such attacks quite frequently in the recent past. We changed the conditions each time, through our struggle. We have arrived at such a time once again. To ensure an atmosphere where people can talk about peace and democracy again, we as the HDP will do all that is within our power.

“SEVERE AND INHUMANE ISOLATION”

We are hoping that, in accordance with the rule of law, Leyla Guven’s captivity as a MP will end soon and she will be released. We hope and we fight for an end to the severe, inhumane and unlawful isolation that has continued for 3 years since April, 2015 and Mr. Öcalan will have the opportunity to meet with his family, lawyers and various committees, and the door to peace in Turkey will be cracked open.

If the judiciary is in fact able to act indepedently from Erdogan, they will apply the Demirtas verdict. As long as that isn’t done, we will continue our fight, our struggle to end isolation and to have all our captive friends released.”