Left Party MP Daniel Riazat and International Left Forum Board Member Yekbun Alp went on hunger strike in the Swedish Parliament.

The action is in solidarity with Leyla Güven and the other hunger strikers demanding the end of isolation imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Riazat and Alp held a press conference in Parliament before starting their hunger strike. Underlining the silence of the world over what is going on in Turkey, Riazat and Alp said they were going on a three-day solidarity hunger strike to break this silence.

Sweden's Left Party has always supported the Kurdish Freedom Movement, recalled Riazat, underlining their support to the HDP.

“We are going on hunger strike, not a conventional fighting method in Sweden, - said Riazat - to protest against the attitude of Turkey as to human rights which are repeatedly being violated.”

Swedish government should support hunger strikers

Alp said that the Swedish Parliament represented democracy and human rights and yet they have gone on hunger strike in Parliament because it was the voice of freedom and peace, and criticized the Swedish government’s silence.

“In this Parliament, great people defended human rights and raised their voices, making the whole world hear the voice of Sweden. We are going on hunger strike here, as the Swedish Parliament has failed to fulfill its mission by not taking any action with regard to the hunger strikes. This hunger strike is for democracy, human rights and peace. Therefore, the Swedish government should support the hunger strikers.”

Alp underlined that “the isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Öcalan is against all international laws” and said people expect everyone moving from words to action.

Swedish and EU values are being tested

Alp said that in fact, it was Sweden and the European Union values that are being tested. “You should immediately put pressure on Turkey to stop the violation of the Kurdish people’s rights if you really are defenders of human rights. Likewise you should demand the end of isolation.”

Together we can end isolation

Alp greeted all the hunger strikers and Leyla Güven.

“Leyla Güven is a symbol of the Kurdish women's struggle for freedom. Throughout history, Kurdish women have been at the forefront of the struggle and have been the pioneers of peace. No matter how strong Erdogan's repression is, we will win peace.”

Kadir Kasırga, a deputy of the Social Democratic Workers Party, attended the press conference and supported the protesters.

Reminding that they too, like the Left Party, have brought the hunger strikes issue to the agenda of Parliament, Kasırga said they would continue to raise the issue and support hunger strikers and added that the health situation of Leyla Güven has reached a critical stage.

"Developments in Turkey - said Kasırga - are going in the opposite direction of that expected. There is an authoritarian one-man rule in Turkey. Erdogan decides everything. This can't go on like this. Sweden, which is one of the most progressive countries in Europe, raised the Kurdish problem much earlier than the other European Union countries. We should continue to do this as MPs. Abdullah Ocalan is not just a prisoner, he is a leader who played a central role in the peace talks between Turkey and the PKK."

Stating that isolation violates international conventions signed by Turkey, Kasırga said: "We demand the release of all political prisoners.”

After the speeches, Riazat and Alp wore white T-shirts with the photo of Leyla Güven and began their action.

After the closure of the parliament, the hunger strike continued at the Democratic Kurdish Community Center.

After the press conference ANF asked some politicians and artists to comment on the hunger strikes and the isolation imposed on Öcalan.

Left-Party MP Lorena Vargas Delgado said that the decision to go on hunger strike was an exemplary act of solidarity by Riazat and Alp.

“We should organise stronger actions in order to put real pressure on Turkey. Turkey should immediately remove the isolation imposed on Öcalan and the political prisoners should be released.”

Lennart Asp, a painter and caricaturist, noted that it was a problem that the PKK was still included in the list of terrorist organizations.

“Since the PKK is on the list of terrorist organizations, the world is silent about the isolation imposed on Öcalan. - said Asp - The European countries are also afraid that Erdogan will send Syrian refugees to Europe. But many people in Europe support the struggle of the Kurds.”

International Left Forum and Stockholm City Councillor, Rodrigo Arce, reiterated his solidarity with the struggle of the Kurdish people and added: “There are a lot of HDP people in prisons in Turkey. People's deputies and mayors are being held in prisons. We want Turkey to respect the rights of prisoners, we want the rights to visit by families and lawyers be respected."