Hunger strikers in diplomatic rounds in the EP

HDP representative for European institutions Fayik Yagizay said visits with MEPs from various groups will continue.

On the 30th day of the hunger strike in Strasbourg to protest the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan, the activists held several meetings with MEPs.

The hunger strike activists met with MEPs on Monday and Tuesday to call for support.

Former HDP MP Dilek Ocalan who is in the indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike launched by 14 activists on December 17 with the motto “To Break the Isolation, To Free the Leader” and KCDK-E Co-chair Yuksel Koc met with MEP Rebecca Harms from the German Greens on Monday. HDP Europe representative Faruk Doru was also present in the meeting.

RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT THE ISOLATION

Ocalan and Koc informed the MEPs about their hunger strike on day 30 and Leyla Guven’s on day 69, stressing that the isolation imposed upon the Kurdish People’s Leader is openly defying international humanitarian legal norms.

The activists said the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) hasn’t fulfilled its duty and pointed to the importance of initiatives in European countries and institutions.

Ocalan and Koc said Leyla Guven’s health is at a critical phase and added that they will continue the hunger strike until the isolation is completely gone.

HARMS: I WILL TAKE INITIATIVE FOR THE HUNGER STRIKES

Former EP Greens Group Chairperson Rebecca Harms said the isolation imposed upon Ocalan is unacceptable.

Harms spoke about the role Ocalan played in the peace process with the Turkish state in previous years and stressed that the peace process was seriously important for Turkey’s negotiations with the European Union.

Harms pointed out that despite all pressure, Erdogan hasn’t changed course and that Turkey still wants the EU negotiations to continue on top of all the anti-democratic practices. Harms said the situation cannot continue.

Rebecca Harms said she will take initiative for the hunger strikes in the EP, the Turkish embassy and the EP representations.

MEETINGS WITH MEPS

The hunger strikers met with Catalan deputies Josep Maria Terricabras and Jordi Sole, German deputy Hans Olaf Henkel, Europe Ecology - The Greens (EELV) member Pascal Durand and Cypriot deputy Takis Hadjigeorgiou.

All deputies in the meeting pointed to Ocalan’s efforts for peace and the fact that the isolation has no place in any international legal norms.

MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE

Meanwhile, HDP representative for European institutions Fayik Yagizay said visits with MEPs from various groups will continue.