The hunger strike carried out by 14 Kurdish activists in Strasbourg demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has reached day 95.

The 14 activists joined the hunger strike resistance led by DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven.

Visitors from all over Europe continue to come to Strasbourg to express solidarity and support to the hunger strikers who issued a statement to mark Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.

The legend has it that on 21 March day, millennia ago, a Kurdish blacksmith named Kawa led a successful rebellion against a cruel Assyrian king named Dehak, who terrorized all the peoples of Mesopotamia, the land between the Euphrates and Tigris.

“Today Dehak is represented by the oppression of the AKP-MHP alliance - said the statement - and today’s Kawa and Mazlum is Zülküf Kesen.”

The statement said; “The movement led by Leader Apo, the creator of the resistance of our age, brought Newroz to its historic meaning. Therefore, Newroz is to celebrate Leader Apo and the martyrs who fought against repression. We welcome Newroz 2019 with the spirit of resistance against isolation. Let's break isolation, destroy fascism and free Kurdistan".

The statement added: “Our tradition of resistance continues to fight fascism today. This resistance is growing in the knowledge of success, hope and determination. From prisons to mountains, from Rojava to Bakur, to Rojhilat and to Kurds all over the world, Newroz will also celebrate the end of DAESH. But we know that behind DAESH are Erdoğan and his friends. Therefore we say that all of the contemporary Dehaks must be completely defeated. Only then can we talk about the inevitable success.

We, as Strasbourg hunger strikers, reiterate once again our belief and determination. Success will arrive on Newroz. We call upon our people, let's turn this Newroz into a Newroz of victory. Let us end isolation. We congratulate our resisting people, Leader Apo, the heroes of freedom, and the Newroz of all our friends who oppose the persecution. Biji Newroz! Bijî Rêber Apo! Berxwedan Jiyan e!"