Hunger Strike in North Kurdistan (Turkey)

[Qonyeyi]

Kurds in Central Anatolia and at the coast showed support for the hunger strikes these two days. Gathering in front of municaplity building and setting up tent, protesters lighted candles in favour of the hunger strike. Especially in the two cities of Konya ( Qonye) and Bodrum, Kurds gathered and stood face to face with the terrorist fascist MHP supporters.

This is the first time in the long history of Kurds in Turkey that Kurds stand up against the government. First time in Central Anatolia. It warms my heart. Especially considering that these two cities are high grounds for some of the biggest MHP votes.

Admin Edit: Pre Warning, please do not make a new topic if there is already a topic about the same subject.
next time you will get a board warnning.

[Cewlik]

That is the topic for all articels about the hunger strike.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10844&start=60

[Anthea]

Turkey in 'gesture' to end Kurdish hunger strike

Turkey's government submitted a bill to parliament Tuesday to give Kurds the right to use their own language in court, a key demand of hundreds of prisoners who have been on hunger strike for two months.

The move came as a Turkish rights group warned about the deteriorating health of the estimated 700 people on hunger strike, saying some could be at death's door as the action entered its 63rd day.

The legislation would allow a Kurdish detainee to "use another language (than Turkish) to defend himself against charges brought against him in court," and would also pave the way for conjugal visits, which are currently banned.

The government is under mounting pressure to end the hunger strike but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- who has described the action as "blackmail" -- insisted on Tuesday that his Islamic-rooted government would not bow to pressure.

"What is happening in prisons right now is the terrorist organisation is leading its members to death," Erdogan said in televised remarks, using a term often used to refer to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

But other prominent figures, including Turkish President Abdullah Gul as well as rights activists and doctors, have repeatedly expressed concern about the health of the strikers.

"Deaths can occur at any time. Some strikers are already suffering irreversible damage," Turkish Human Rights Association president Ozturk Turkdogan warned in a statement.

Sirri Sureyya Onder, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) who joined the hunger strike at the weekend in a show of solidarity along with several other politicians, denounced the bill as "inadequate".

He urged Turkish authorities to meet another of the hunger strikers' demands, an improvement in conditions for jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is being held in solitary confinement on a remote island prison and is barred from receiving visitors.

Ocalan was charged with treason and sentenced to hang in 1999 but the sentence was commuted to life in prison in 2002 after Ankara abolished the death penalty under pressure from the European Union, which Turkey has long sought to join.

BDP co-chairman Selahattin Demirtas told AFP last week that the strike could end if Ankara allowed Ocalan, who has been in solitary confinement in Imrali prison off Istanbul for about a year and half, to receive visitors from family members and lawyers.

A parliamentary source said however that the language legislation could only be debated in parliament if a majority of the Kurdish activists end their strike in return for the "gesture" by Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... trike.aspx

I know exactly what gesture I would make to erDOGan

[kurdistanis1]

This is an amazing sacrifice by our people in the North, I'm not sure if anything like this has been done in the world. The turkish government are savages and it takes an action like this for them to even debate the possibility of our people speak Kurdish in court.

Long live Kurdistan and inshallah this will end without any deaths.

[alan131210]

Damirtas to kerdogan: not just a poster we will built a statue for Ocalan

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=168072743336167

[Anthea]

The main demands of the detainees on hunger strike in Turkish prisons since 64 days ago are briefed by releasing the leader of the Turkish PKK, Abdullah Ocalan and allowing to study Kurdish in Kurdish-majority areas in Turkey and improving the situation of the Kurds in general.

I have ALWAYS believed that the hunger strikers should also be striking for an INDEPENDENT KURDISTAN as well as the freedom of Ocalan

[Anthea]

I do not know about other people but I have started to feel guilty every time I eat a bar of chocolate

This is NOT a joke, I am absolutely serious, there should be more that we could ALL do to support the hunger strikers and make others aware of the Kurdish cause.

I am in England

PLEASE could someone design some bright funky sweatshirts in the Kurdish colours ?

[Anthea]

Kurdish politicians including PJAK leader joined the hunger strike

BRUSSELS, Belgium, — Kurdish politicians from all parts of Kurdistan staged a hunger strike in a bid to draw attention to the indefinite hunger strike sustained by Kurdish prisoners in Turkey’s prison which has entered its 66 day today.

The politicians and high-profile individuals who staged the hunger strike in Brussels include:

Remzi Kartal the head of Kongra-Gel, Zubeydar Aydar the leading figure of KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union), Rehman Haci Ehmedi the Secretary General of PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party), Nizamedin Tuc, Gonay Aslan and Derwesh Ferho journalists, Celal Cwartay, Mehmud Shakar lawyer of Ocalan, Hozan Seydxan an artist, Siymend Moeni head of Kurdish Human Rights Organisation in Europe.

Source: http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=4433

I am DELIGHTED that so many high profile individuals and politicians have taken part in the hunger strike.

Especially Remzi Kartal, who I greatly admire and respect for all his work internationally and his support of his fellow Kurds