Swedish Left Party commends hunger strikers

Swedish Left Party commended the hunger strikers who broke the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Left Party Uppsala Chapter issued a written statement on the end of the hunger strikes. The statement commended the success of the Kurds and said, “A struggle for democracy and human rights was won.”

The Left Party stated that the hunger strikes and death fasts were ended after the statement Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan released through his lawyers, and stressed that the Left Party has stood with the protesters throughout the process.

The statement signed by Left Party Uppsala Chairperson Per Marcus Risman and International Relations Official Yekbun Alp said, “We will always stand with the Kurds in their struggle for human rights and democracy. Your struggle is our struggle,” and sent a message that the solidarity will continue.

Sweden’s Left Party had shown support for the struggle to break the isolation in various forms after Leyla Guven went on a hunger strike on November 8, 2018.

The party’s MEP Malin Bjork had visited the Strasbourg hunger strikers several times, and MPs and administrators had issued statements supporting them.

The Left Party also participated in the demonstrations by Kurdistanis and demanded an end to the isolation. MP Daniel Riazat had gone on a 3 day hunger strike in solidarity with the hunger strikers.

Left Party MP Amineh Kakabaveh spoke about the hunger strikes at the Swedish Parliament once, and Foreign Policy Spokesperson Hakan Svennelig twice, demanding Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom to take initiative to end the isolation.