A rotational hunger strike by Kurdish political prisoners across Turkey goes into its 17th day today, Wednesday, demanding the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), from İmralı F-Type High Security Prison, and a resolution to the Kurdish issue. The campaign, which started on 27 November, is anticipated to last until 15 February 2024.
A Justice Vigil being held in Diyarbakır (Amed) in support of the prisoners’ cause, now in its 10th day. Mehmet Kaya (71), a participant in the Justice Vigil which is supported by various democratic institutions and civil society organisations, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA).
Kaya, whose late wife Ayşe Kaya was a prominent peace advocate, emphasised the necessity of resistance: “We have no choice but to resist … Only those who resist can claim their rights,” he said. He recalled the activism of his wife, who was arrested for defending Öcalan against accusations of violence, but eventually acquitted.
Kaya dismissed the notion of the state brutality towards Kurds being unique, asserting that all states can be oppressive when circumstances allow. But he highlighted the ongoing struggle and plight of the Kurds, asserting that the capitalist system does not recognise them as equals, leading to continuous oppression and massacres, and he stressed the importance of supporting those in prison.
The hunger strike, now joined by prisoners in 106 prisons across the country, is part of a larger international campaign for Öcalan’s freedom and the resolution of the Kurdish issue.