EU-Kurds protest in peaceful to support hunger strikers in Turkey
By Roni Alasor and Lorin Sarkisyan – Brussels, 3 November 2012 – Ararat News (ANP). Several thousands Kurds from Germany, France. Holland and Belgium demonstrated peacefully in Brussels as sign of solidarity with the 683 Kurdish hunger strikers in Turkey. The protestors aim to bring Europe’s attention to the situation of the Kurdish political prisoners in Turkish.
Around 6000-7000 Kurds from Germany, France. Holland and Belgium demonstrated peacefully in Brussels as sign of solidarity with the six hundred eighty three Kurdish hunger strikers in Turkey. The march started from Station Nord and reached Schuman place, where are located the European Institutions. The protestors aim to bring Europe’s attention to the situation of the Kurdish political prisoners in the Turkish prisons. The good cooperation between Brussels police-security authorities and Kurdish rally organisers resulted in peaceful demonstration.
Many high level Kurdish politicians stayed in front of the cortege, among them: President of KONGRA GEL Başkanı Remzi Kartal, Chairmen of Kurdish National Congress (KNK) Tahir Kemalizade, KCK, Leader of Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi, lawyer and former Kurdish MP and member of Union of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK) Zubeyir Aydar and Chairmen of the Confederation of Kurdish Associations in Europe (KON-KURD) Ismet Kem.
The Kurdish politicians asked to the European governments and international organisations “to not let to be used by Turkey in their policy against Kurds who are deprived from their human rights”. Europe should not be with deaf ears, blind eyes and mute mouth to what is happening in Turkey. The silence should be broken down!”.
The Kurdish politicians also encouraged the more than 1.5 million EU-Kurds “to insure support and full mobilisation for the Kurdish fundamental human rights and solidarity with the hunger strikers whose health situation is in risk”.
The demonstration in Brussels was part of the Kurdish solidarity movement, which has been spreading all over Turkey and Europe in the last weeks. A sit-in action has also been started last Monday in front of the European Parliament in Brussels.Six hundred eighty three political prisoners in fifty eight Turkish prisons have started an irreversible and indefinite hunger strike since 12 September 2012. Currently, about twenty of the hunger strikers are in critical state and their life is at risk. There are around 10.000 Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey.The protestors ask for solution of the Kurdish question, release of all political prisoners, recognition of the use of the Kurdish native language in education and during defence in courts, provision of health, security and freedom conditions for the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The good cooperation between Brussels police-security authorities and Kurdish rally organisers resulted a peaceful demonstration.