Kurdish issue discussed in the European Parliament

A press conference was held at the European Parliament to underline the situation of HDP Hakkari deputy, Leyla Güven on hunger strike for over a month.

A press conference was held at the European Parliament with the participation of Kurdish Friendship Group chair, Marie-Christine Vergiat, Cyprus EMP Takis Hadjigeorgiou, and the Honorary President of the HDP and former Izmir deputy, Ertuğrul Kürkçü.

Speaking at the press conference, Marie-Christine Vergiate and Takis Hadjigeorgiou, drew attention to the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and shared information about the hunger strikes carried out in Kurdistan, Turkey and Europe.

The situation of former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who remains in prison despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, was addressed at the press conference and speakers called on the press to report the situation of the Kurdish politician as well as the violation of his rights.

The speakers also underlined the situation of HDP Hakkari deputy, Leyla Güven, who is on hunger strike since 8 November in Amed prison and is beginning to experience health problems.

The speakers said the European Parliament should be more sympathetic and informed on those situations.

The European deputies also demanded that dialogue should be retaken to favour peace as asked by the hunger strikers who are asking and end to the isolation regime imposed on Öcalan.

HDP Honorary President and former Izmir deputy, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, also drew attention to the harsh attitude of the Turkish government towards the Kurdish people and their representatives.

Kürkçü also referred to Erdoğan’s latest threats to attack Rojava and pointed out that Turkey currently arbitrarily accused hundreds of thousands of people of ’terrorism’.

Referring to the hunger strikes carried out by the people and by prisoners Kürkçü said that the demand of the hunger strikers is the end to the isolation imposed on the Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.