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8 November 2012

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MPs joining Kurdish hunger strike increases concern

Seán Crowe TD at the 1916 Easter Rising Commemoration at Dublin's GPO in 2010

'The prisoners’ demands are reasonable and non-threatening.'

REPORTS that two MPs belonging to the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have joined the hunger strike by 600 prisoners in Turkey has led to a renewed call by Sinn Féin Foreign Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe for the Turkish Prime Minister “to respect the reasonable demands of the hunger strikers and open a meaningful dialogue with the prisoners and their representatives”.

Deputy Crowe met supporters of the Kurdish cause as they highlighted the growing crisis with a vigil at the Dáil (Irish Parliament) in Dublin on Wednesday.

It was announced on Thursday that Peace and Democracy Party MPs Emine Ayna and Özdal Ucer have joined the hunger strike.

The prisoners’ demands are: The right to education and legal defence in their mother tongue of Kurdish; and the start of direct peace talks to resolve the outstanding conflict by peaceful, constitutional means and with the full participation of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.

A petition to the Prime Minister of Turkey has been signed by Sinn Féin MPs, MLAs, TDs and senators – including former hunger strikers such as Pat Sheehan MLA – as well as Gareth Peirce, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Bruce Kent, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky and Mark Thomas, among others.

Deputy Crowe is another signatory. He said on Wednesday after meeting Kurdish solidarity activists:

 “I am very concerned for the health of the 63 Kurdish prisoners who began their hunger strike 56 days ago.

“This hunger strike has entered a very critical phase and a negotiated settlement must be found urgently. There is mounting concern that the first prisoners on hunger strike could start to die with the next 10 days, according to Turkey’s main medical association.

“The prisoners’ demands are reasonable and non-threatening.

“I have signed an open letter to the Turkish Prime Minister urging him to respect the reasonable demands of the hunger strikers and open a meaningful dialogue with the prisoners and their representatives.”

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