The mass sit-in launched in front of the Council of Europe (CoE) to draw attention to the indefinite nonalternating hunger strikes launched by Leyla Guven against the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan and continued by thousands of prisoners in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan as well as dozens of activists in Europe continues.

The sit-in is organized by the Kurdish Women’s Movement Europe (TJK-E) and Kurdish Society Congress Europe (KCDK-E), and dozens of constituents from both organizations as well as faith groups support the protest.

CONDEMNING THE SILENCE AGAINST ISOLATION AND DEATHS

The mass protest was launched in front of the European Parliament on March 25 with a 5-day hunger strike, and has continued in front of the CoE since last week. Representatives from many institutions from around Europe, hunger strikers’ families and many patriots are attending the mass sit-in and condemning the CoE and Committee for the Prevention of Torture’s (CPT) stance.

The crowd gathered at 10:00 in the morning in the area where the Freedom for Ocalan Vigil has been held for 7 years and formed a human chain in front of the CoE building at noon. The crowd chanted slogans against the isolation there and called for action for the deaths.

Later TEV-CAND artists sang revolutionary songs and the activists informed the public.

MARCH TO THE CITY CENTER

A march was held at 14:00 from the CoE to the Brandt stop where the Strasbourg University also stands. The activists held photographs of the Kurdish People’s Leader as well as Leyla Guven and hunger strikers.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF SACRIFICE ACTIVISTS

The crowd also held a banner that read, “Break The Isolation Tear Down Fascism Free Kurdistan - Biji Berxwedana Zindanan” in French and Kurdish, and also had photographs of Ugur Sakar, who set himself on fire in Germany against the isolation, and political prisoners who committed actions of sacrifice.

After the 2 kilometer march was concluded, the crowd went back to the CoE offices to continue the protest until 17:00.

The activists met again at 10:00 this morning in front of the CoE in the square between the CoE and the CPT.