UK

Hunger strike by Kurdish activists continues in London

The questioning of seven Kurds taken into custody in the British police operation against the Kurdish Community Center continues.


HIKMET ERDEN
LONDON
Tuesday, 3 December 2024

The British police carried out an operation against the Kurdish Community Center and Kurdish activists in London on 27 November. Kurds and their friends have been resisting in front of the KCC building, which has been under occupation since 27 November. Four Kurdish activists are on hunger strike indefinitely, and are visited by many people every day.

Writer and politician Ali Poyraz, Kurdish People's Assembly co-chair Türkan Budak, KHM activist Ercan Akbal, activist Berfin K., Kurdish Community Center Foreign Affairs Representative Agit K. and activist Doğan S. are on hunger strike. It was learned that the Kurdish activists, who were learned to be in good health, exercised their right to remain silent during their interrogations. The 7-day additional period for those detained ends on 4 December. It is not known whether the police will extend this period.


Devrim Sara, who is on a hunger strike in front of the KCC building, said: "This institution has been serving the Kurdish people here for 35 years and has been a place where tens of thousands of Kurds have met. The organized criminalization of Kurds is unacceptable, and this violence must be stopped." Stating that they will continue the action until the police occupation of the KCC building ends, Devrim Sara noted: "Criminalizing a people is violence. It is unacceptable for states to approach us in this way."

Berivan Yavaylı, 55, is also on hunger strike. She said: "We are experiencing the same situation as we lived in Turkey. What do they want from the Kurdish people? I came to this country because of the AKP's fascism. I thought I would be free in England. But when I experience the same oppression here, I start to hate the states. Our friends were beaten and this affected us very much. We are seeing the same torture we experienced in Turkey here."

In the meantime, another rally and march will be held in front of the Turnpike Line Station at 5pm today, Tuesday. The action is organized by the DGB, that, together with the British Alevi Federation, continues its diplomatic work on the Parliament to end the occupation of the KCC building.

Action in Scotland

Kurds and their friends gathered in Edinburgh, and held a protest on Monday.

The slogans "Take your hands off the Kurds", "Jin Jiyan Azadi", "Bijî Serok Apo" were frequently chanted during the action supported by the Kurdistan Solidarity Network. Kurdish People’s Assembly co-chair Dersim Amed said that the organized and deliberate attack by the British police on the Kurds was not only against democratic values ​​but also against the Kurdish people’s right to organize.

Amed added that Kurdish institutions worldwide were the symbol of freedom and human values, and that it was unacceptable for the London KCC building to be occupied. Amed invited all people to the action they will hold in front of the Scottish Parliament today, Tuesday.