5-day alternating hunger strikes are taking place in Strasbourg in solidarity with the indefinite hunger strike in the city run by 14 activists who demand an end to the isolation imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The 14 activists are on their 86 day of fast.

In parallel with the indefinite hunger strike, 5-day alternating hunger strikes are organised in front of the Council of Europe (CoE) and Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) in Strasbourg.

The alternating hunger strike, first started by members of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), was taken over bu a group of Yazidi women coming from Germany last week.

This week, the hunger strike has been taken over by a 9-person group from Switzerland who will be fasting till Friday.

The alternating hunger strike is taking place in the area where a vigil demanding freedom for Öcalan has continued since 2012. The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil had started on June 25, 2012 to call for an end to the aggravated isolation imposed upon Öcalan and to raise awareness for his freedom. Hundreds of thousands of flyers, brochures and booklets have been handed out and Öcalan’s ideas have been communicated to people from dozens of countries throughout the world.

Some two thousand activists have taken over the vigil in more than 300 groups. Artists, politicians, journalists and European allies have taken part in person.