Hunger strike for Abdullah Öcalan's freedom in Hesekê and Tabqa

People organise two-day hunger strikes across North-East Syria in solidarity with political prisoners in Turkey, on hunger strike since 27 November to support the international campaign "Freedom for Öcalan, A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question".

Hunger strike actions have been launched in Hesekê and Tabqa with the slogan "We salute the resistance in prisons and we will liberate our Leader with the spirit and values of the martyrs". The hunger strikes coordinated by the People's Initiative in Cizre canton were previously held in Dêrik, Girkê Legê, Tirbespiyê, Til Hemis, Qamişlo and Amûdê for the same purpose.

The symbolic two-day hunger strike actions in North-East Syria are taking place as part of the international campaign "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a political solution to the Kurdish question", launched worldwide on 10 October. Members of civil society organisations, representatives of political parties, council members and many people participated in the hunger strike. Images of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and SDF flags were hung on the tent set up in the area where the School Administration building is located in the district. The actions are taking place in solidarity with the political prisoners on hunger strike in Turkey and North Kurdistan under the motto "We salute the resistance in the dungeons and we will liberate the Leader with the spirit and values of the martyrs".

On 27 November, members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and PAJK (Party of Free Women in Kurdistan) imprisoned in Turkey went on hunger strike in support of the international campaign. The hunger strike will be carried out in alternating groups from 27 November to 15 February. 

Hesekê

Members of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) and Democratic Islamic Congress participate in the hunger strike in Hesekê.

The hunger strike will last for two days. At the beginning of the action, People's Initiative member Emar Shamlan and Kongra Star Coordination member Rîma Mehmud read a press statement.

The statement pointed out that the people of the region support the resistance of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and will increase the resistance against the policies of isolation.

The statement emphasised that hunger strike activists will continue their struggle for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

After the statement, a documentary about the resistance of political prisoners was screened.

Tabqa

People's Initiative for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and Mothers for Peace started a two-day hunger strike in Tabqa under the slogan "We will break the isolation with the spirit of resistance of free peoples and ensure the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Öcalan".

The first day of the hunger strike was attended by representatives of the Tabqa Canton Civil Administration, offices and committees, the residents of the city and members of the youth and women's movements.

Syrian Initiative members Yasir El Kirdî and Şeze El Hisên made a speech here and said that they will continue their actions until the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is ensured. Şeze El Hisên said: "Leader Öcalan stated that a revolution without the participation of women would be defeated. Therefore, we will struggle on the basis of the ideas and philosophy of the Leader".

The action continued with a screening about the resistance of the prisoners in the dungeons.