Leyla Güven, a democratically elected Kurdish MP to the Turkish parliament, has been on hunger strike for over 120 days and is nearing death. Her hunger strike calls for an end to the isolation of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. The leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) has been held mostly in solitary confinement by Turkey since 1999.

Over 300 Kurds are now on hunger strike in Turkish prisons, Kurdistan, Europe and North America. In Strasbourg, 14 Kurds have been on indefinite hunger strike since 17 December to pressure the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) to fulfil its duties and pay a visit to check on the situation of Öcalan. In Newport, Wales, Imam Sis has been on hunger strike since 17 December in Newport.

The international campaign for freedom for Öcalan and reconvening peace talks between the Turkish government and the PKK has been supported by the TUC, Jeremy Corbyn, Plaid Cymru, Mairead Maguire, Wole Soyinka, Desmond Tutu, Gerry Adams, Noam Chomsky, Professor Angela Davis and many others. Many believe that freedom for Öcalan is a precondition for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question in Turkey.

We call upon the UK government to press the Turkish government to end the isolation of Öcalan.

Mark Campbell Co-Chair, Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign UK

Adam Price Leader, Plaid Cymru

Darren Williams Labour NEC and secretary, Welsh Labour Grassroots

Peter Hain Labour, House of Lords

Mark Serwotka President, TUC

Anthony Slaughter Leader, Wales Green party

Leanne Wood AM Plaid Cymru

Marianne Owens NEC, Public & Commercial Services Union

Cerith Griffiths Wales secretary, Fire Brigades Union

Amrit Wilson South Asia Solidarity Group

Lindsey German National convenor, Stop the War Coalition

Allison Hulmes National director, British Association of Social Workers Cymru

Osian Rhys Chair, Cymdeithas yr Iaith/Welsh Language Society

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