On the Greek island Lesvos refugees are protesting for more than a week now. Some of them started a hunger strike on Friday, others joined over the weekend. One person is refusing to drink water. They need our support.

Image: Protesting refugees started a hunger strike on Lesvos on October 27. Inage by Twitter account @AHampay.Published by Enough is Enough.

Note: Enough is Enough is not organizing any of these events, we are publishing this text for people across the US and Europe to be able to see what is going on and for documentation only.

Read all our reports about Lesvos; here.

Protesting Refugees on Lesvos Need Support



On the Greek island Lesvos refugees are protesting for more than a week now. Some of them started a hunger strike on Friday, others joined over the weekend. They need our support.

The protests started at October 21, the refugees demand to open the Greek islands and let them travel to the main land. On friday four of the protesting refugees started a hunger strike.

In a statement on his Facebook profile, Arash Hampay wrote on October 27:

“I have bad news.

Refugees have been protesting for over one week now in Sappho Square, Mytilini. They have been hoping against hope that their call for justice will be heard, but still the people in power who are responsible for their suffering have yet to listen. Four of the demonstrators have decided to start a hunger strike untill their demands are met.

I want to tell you what they demand. They demand freedom, that very primordial and basic of human rights!

The protesters and the hunger strikers want freedom, they want to be released from this open air prison of Lesbos. They want to be released from the concentration camp that is Moria. The refugees demand that the Greek government accept these people as refugees, otherwise let them leave this island and this country so that they can seek refuge and asylum in another country. We demand an end to our captivity! We demand our freedom! We demand dignified and respectfull treatment! We demand that you follow your own laws. We have experienced many years of oppression, wars, bombs and authoritarian regimes. We have sought refuge from you, for freedom and for safety. If you do not give us that safety and refuge, relsease us from this captivity. Do not deport us back to our countries! Do not deport us to countries that are ruled by authoritarian regimes and dictatorships. We consist of more than 50 people. Most of us are women and children. We have been in the main square of Mytilini for more than one week. We have been in front of the eyes of the people, the UN, the Police and the State. There has yet to be any positive reactions to our demands and our protests. This is why those refugees want to start a hunger strike!” Arash Hampay concluded his statement with the names of the hunger strikers: Armin Hanare, Hessam Shaeri Hesari, Sherzad Ahmadian and Reza Haidari. On Saturday another protester started a hunger strike and on Saturday they were joined by somebody who is refusing to drink water. On Friday 4 people started to #hungerstrike , on Saturday 1 perain joined them. Today another person has joined who refuses to drink water. pic.twitter.com/R70aO8B8RE — arash hampay (@AHampay) October 29, 2017 Tonight Arash Hampay published another statement on his Facebook profile. Arash wrote: “The Coordination for the Refugee & Immigrant Support Movement of Lesvos is reaching out to all who can assist with the following: At the moment, refugees who are residing in protest on Sappho Square depend on the support of organizations, groups and collectives, as well as, the individual help of civilians who are willing to show their solidarity by offering food, drink and other basic items as listed below: • Electric water boilers (for hot beverage and baby food preparation)

• bottled water, juice, sugar, tea, coffee, baby formula (milk), long lasting milk (not condensed), rusks, diapers,baby wipes, sanitary pads, toilet paper,

• fruit creams and baby creams, biscuits, chlorine for cleaning, trash bags, sleeping bags, fleece blankets, beanies, scarves and gloves, and first aid kit

• electrolytes and vitamins

• Also needed: fruit plastic utensils and drinking cups, kitchen roll paper

• Small towels, soap and shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes

• Small toys suitable for young children In regard to clothes, we require clothes especially warm/long sleeve items or even isothermal if possible and there will be a constant demand throughout the period that the refugees will be at the square. Please try to cover the immediate need for the following: • Men’s shoes (sizes 39 to 43)

• Women’s shoes (sizes 36 to 40)

• Women’s and men’s pants and underwear

• Men’s jackets (small and medium sizes)

• Children’s coats

• Pants for ages 4-17 years

• Socks and underwear for all ages All donations will be collected at the Worker’s Club (Ergatiki Leshi) of Lesvos island situated on Pittakou Street 15 (Mytilini)

and the drop offs will be arranged after phone communications at the following numbers: 6970998829, 6996937018 Thank you in advance for your attention and prompt action.” Refugees are protesting again and again for the freedom of movement and the inhuman conditions on the Greek islands. Enough is Enough is one of many groups who support the Open The Islands campaign. But considering the fact that the conditions are getting worse and worse for people who are forced to stay on the Greek islands we think we need to do more. Winter is coming and the dying at EU borders has to stop. Its about time to start a wave of solidarity actions across Europe. The EU member states should immediately cancel the EU/Turkey deal and open their borders. Get active and support the refugee struggle for the freedom of movement. In a documentary that we produced about the situation on Lesvos, we exposed the inhuman treatment of people who are forced to stay on the island.

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On November 15 we will return to Barcelona but we do need your support to make our independent on the ground reports possible.

On December 16 we will return to Lesvos to report about the situation of refugees on the Greek island.

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