MPs at the Parliament of the United Kingdom tabled a motion on the hunger strikes demanding the ending of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s isolation. Protests against the isolation of the Kurdish leader will be taken to the agenda of the Foreign Office on January 22nd.

The motion reads:

“- concerned that the hunger strike in Turkey by Leyla Güven MP of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has reached its third month and that she is in a critical condition;

- notes that her protest has inspired others to hunger strike, including Ilhan Sis in Newport, South Wales, UK who is now on an indefinite hunger strike, and that 156 other Kurds held in Turkish prisons are now also on indefinite hunger strikes;

- is further concerned for the welfare of those hunger strikers following reports that they have not been given sufficient water or vitamin supplements;

- expresses regret that the central demand for the end of the cruel isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader, and the persecution of the Kurdish people in Turkey has gone unheard;

- and believes that urgent dialogue on this issue is necessary for these hunger strikes to end and for a tragedy to be avoided.”

MPs who have signed to support the motion, tabled by Liz Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru Party, are:

Chris Stephens of the Scottish National Party (SNP)

Jim Shannon of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

Stewart Malcolm McDonald of the Scottish National Party (SNP)

Mr Jim Cunningham of Labour Party

Chris Williamson of Labour Party

Lloyd Russell-Moyle of Labour Party