NAV-DEM: The Kurdish people no longer tolerate isolation

"The demand of Uğur Şakar, who set fire to his body, is the demand of friends who are on hunger strike today."

The Democratic Kurdish Community Centre in Germany (NAV-DEM) issued a statement urging people to meet outside the hospital in Krefeld where Uğur Şakar lost his life today.

Uğur Şakar had set himself on fire on 20 February to protest isolation against Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The statement said: “Uğur Şakar carried out an action which is also a call to engage in the struggle against fascism and to free our leadership. The letter he left behind was a reaction to the European institutions, especially the CPT, and to their attitude towards the isolation of the Kurdish people, especially young people and women. We call on all our people to meet outside the hospital in Duisburg where our comrade Uğur Şakar reached martyrdom.”

Hunger strike resistance

NAV-DEM recalled the hunger strike resistance led by HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven to demand the end of isolation. “Hundreds of prisoners, - said the statement - 14 activists in Strasbourg, Nasir Yagiz in Hewlêr, activists in Canada, Wales and many cities of Europe, have picked up Leyla’s call and went on hunger strikes. Zülküf Gezen fell martyr in Tekirdağ prison and today Uğur Şakar.”

The statement continued: “The demand of Uğur Şakar, who set fire to his body, is the demand of friends who are on hunger strike today. Şakar pointed the finger at the silence of European institutions and the violence of the German police against Kurds.

We must put react against the silence of Europe, especially Germany. The German government is responsible for our friend’s action.”

Call on people to resist and take action

The statement called “on all our people to get organised around our leader, our martyrs, and take action against isolation. All states and intergovernmental organizations that play a role in the isolation imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, particularly those in Germany and in Europe, must understand the meaning of this action well. The Kurdish people no longer tolerate isolation.”