Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP, spoke about Imam Sis and the demands of the hunger-strikers in Westminster today during Prime Minister's Questions. She asked Theresa May if she, along with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, would intervene to push Turkey to end the illegal isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and to abide by international law.
See this link for a video clip of her speech.
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Theresa May needs to prove her PMQs words on hunger strikers aren’t just lip service - The Canary8/5/2019 Source: https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2019/05/08/theresa-may-needs-to-prove-her-pmqs-words-on-hunger-strikers-arent-just-lip-service/
During Prime Minister’s Questions on 8 May, Theresa May was asked whether she will intervene over ongoing Kurdish hunger strikes in the UK and abroad. And she pledged to encourage her Turkish allies to ‘uphold human rights’. But she now needs to prove her words aren’t just lip service. Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts questioned the PM over whether she would take action as a matter of ‘urgency’ given the critical condition of Kurdish hunger strikers. Those on hunger strike include Ilhan Sis (also known as Imam) in Newport. Sis is currently on day 143 of his indefinite hunger strike and, as his friend recently wrote, “is close to death”. The strikers want Britain to put pressure on the Turkish government over the appalling prison conditions of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Continue reading. STARTS
(UK) On the 4th May activists in twelve towns and cities across Wales, Scotland, and England took part in a day of action in solidarity with Kurdish hunger strikers across the world. The campaign highlighted Turkish human rights abuses and discouraged people in the UK from holidaying in Turkey, arguing this indirectly supports human rights abuses in Turkey. The day of action focused on Tui (formerly Thomson Holidays). It included protests and leafleting at TUI branches across the UK. In Bristol activists occupied a Tui branch, with two activists starting a 5-day hunger strike from within Tui. The list of places where actions took place are: Barry, Swansea, Newport, Cardiff City Centre, Bristol, Brighton, Hull, Exeter, Merthyr Tudful, Manchester, Roath (Cardiff), Dundee, London. Actions will be happening in Liverpool and Bangor early next week. See this document for photos and links to further information on the various actions. The day of action also raised awareness of the Kurdish hunger strikes happening across the world. Over 7000 Kurdish activists are on hunger strike across the world. This action was initiated by Kurdish member of the Turkish Parliament, Leyla Güven, on 7th November 2018. Imam Sis, a 32 year old Kurdish resident of Newport, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since the 17th November 2018. Their conditions are rapidly deteriorating. The hunger strikers are calling for an end to the isolation of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been held in a Turkish prison since 1999 and denied access to his lawyers since 2011 and only allowed very brief family visits to check he is alive in recent years. The hunger strikers are also demanding the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) re-open its investigation into the prison on Imrali Island (Turkey) where Öcalan is held. On 3rd May Eluned Morgan AM, the Welsh Government’s Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language, sent a letter to Jeremy Hunt asking him to act on the hunger strikers’ demands. Activists chose to target UK travel agents to highlight the links between the UK and the oppressive Turkish regime. Turkey continues to oppress the Kurdish people even after Kurdish-led forces have recently liberated the last of ISIS’ territory in Syria. Activists also highlight recent Turkish atrocities committed against the Kurds, for example in Afrin and Cizre. In Bristol there are people starting a 5 day hunger strike in solidarity on this day of action. CONTACTS Interviews available on request Telephone: +44 7565 156655 Twitter: @KSCCymru Email: [email protected] QUOTES Memed Aksoy from the Kurdish community in Newport (South Wales) “Despite its appalling human rights record, Turkey is still one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world. In 2018, it made $26.3 billion from its tourism industry, which is intrinsically linked to its war machine. “Turkish tourism directly funds the state’s war on the Kurdish people. In the name of humanity, we ask everyone to boycott holidaying in Turkey. Therefore we call up on every one who stands in solidarity with the Kurdish People to avoid visiting Turkish Holiday resorts. Every penny spent in Turkey, turns into bullets and victimises Kurdish Civilians.” Rosa Gilbert, Co-Secretary of the national Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign “For many years, solidarity campaigns have used boycotts as a way to not only communicate to oppressed people that they have friends and supporters on their side, but to leverage economic pressure over the oppressors. This was used historically against the apartheid South African regime and currently is used by BDS campaigners against Israeli human rights abuses and settlements. Given the situation in Turkey, with the Kurdish people's political representatives locked up in extreme conditions, thousands of activists, party members and representatives from the HDP behind bars, with the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, northern Syria occupied and economically exploited by Turkey, we must put pressure on the Turkish state. “The Turkish economy is in freefall and tourism is a hugely important sector to the economy. Unknowingly, holidaymakers from England and Wales pump huge amounts of money into sustaining Erdogan's regime - he is able to present the "normality" of Turkey to tourists visiting the western Turkish resorts (in contrast to the devastation wreaked on the Kurdish southeast, hidden from view) and can use the economic injection to finance NATO's second largest standing army, which colludes with jihadists in Syria and attacks Kurds across Turkey, Syria and Iraq. This alone should make people pause for thought whilst booking their summer getaways.” Kurdish Solidarity Cymru “We have the potential to raise awareness of the hunger strike, and the fact that Turkey as a state tortures Kurds and supports ISIS. A place totally unsuitable to go on holiday and support economically. “Tourism accounts for 11.6% of Turkey's economy, contributing $26 billion to their economy in 2017. This income helps fuel Turkey’s war on the Kurds. There are also direct links between Turkish holiday and arms companies. Over 2 million people from the UK visited Turkey in 2018, making the UK one of the top 5 countries supporting Turkey's tourist income. “We cannot rely on governments alone to pressure Turkey, attacking their economy through boycotts is an important part of the campaign. Tui profits from facilitating holidays to Turkey - in addition to encouraging individuals to boycott Turkey we will put pressure on the travel agent TUI to drop Turkish holidays from it’s selection.” NOTES FOR THE EDITOR
PHOTOS
FURTHER READING
On the 4th May activists in twelve towns and cities across Wales, Scotland, and England took part in a day of action in solidarity with Kurdish hunger strikers across the world. The campaign highlighted Turkish human rights abuses and discouraged people in the UK from holidaying in Turkey, arguing this indirectly supports human rights abuses in Turkey. The day of action focused on Tui (formerly Thomson Holidays). It included protests and leafleting at TUI branches across the UK. In Bristol activists occupied a Tui branch, with two activists starting a 5-day hunger strike from within Tui. Barry // Y Barri Activists paste posters reading 'Boycott Turkey - Support the hunger-stikers' at the Tui store in Barry. Swansea // Abertawe A small group of locals leaflet and picket Tui in central Swansea. Newport // Casnewydd Hundreds of leaflets handed out as the Tui shop is covered in stickers bearing İmam's face. Cardiff // Caerdydd Activists conduct a flying picket at the Tui in central Cardiff during the May Day march, and follow up by leafleting outside a smaller Tui agency in Roath. Merthyr Tydfil Comrades from Undod (Welsh socialist independence movement)picket the Tui shop in Merthyr before a meeting. Exeter Devonian activists protest outside their local Tui. Brighton Supporters leaflet for a couple of hours. Bristol Bristol Kurdistan Solidarity Network occupies a Tui shop and holds a rowdy demonstration. Hull Kurdish comrades in the north-east unfurl their banners to protest at the Tui in the city centre. Dundee // Dùn Dè
Scottish supporters finish off a day of action with speeches outside the Tui in Dundee. Eluned Morgan,the Welsh Government's Minister for International Relations, has written to Jeremy Hunt urging the UK Gov to urgently contact the Committee for the prevention of Torture regarding the illegal isolation of Kurdish political leader Abduallah Öcalan
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On the 4th May 10 towns and cities from across England and Wales are taking part in a day of action in solidarity with Kurdish hunger strikers across the world. The campaign will highlight Turkish human rights abuses and discourage people from the UK from holidaying in Turkey, arguing this indirectly supports human rights abuses in Turkey. The day of action will focus on Tui (formerly Thomson Holidays). It will include protests and actions at travel agents and distributing informative materials to the public. Over 7000 Kurdish activists are on hunger strike across the world. This action was initiated by Kurdish member of the Turkish Parliament, Leyla Güven, on 7th November 2018. Imam Sis, a 32 year old Kurdish resident of Newport, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since the 17th November 2018. Their conditions are rapidly deteriorating. The hunger strikers are calling for an end to the isolation of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been held in a Turkish prison since 1999 and denied access to his lawyers since 2011 and only allowed very brief family visits to check he is alive in recent years. The hunger strikers are also demanding the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) re-open its investigation into the prison on Imrali Island (Turkey) where Öcalan is held. Activists have chosen to target UK travel agents to highlight the links between the UK and the oppressive Turkish regime. Turkey continues to oppress the Kurdish people even after Kurdish-led forces have recently liberated the last of ISIS’ territory in Syria. Activists also highlight recent Turkish atrocities committed against the Kurds, for example in Afrin and Cizre. There are a diverse range of actions anticipated as part of the day in various cities including; Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Bangor, Swansea, Barry, Manchester, Liverpool, Penzance, Hull and London. In Bristol there are people starting a 5 day hunger strike in solidarity on this day of action. CONTACTS Interviews available on request Telephone: +44 7565 156655 Twitter: @KSCCymru Email: [email protected] QUOTES Memed Aksoy from the Kurdish community in Newport (South Wales) “Despite its appalling human rights record, Turkey is still one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world. In 2018, it made $26.3 billion from its tourism industry, which is intrinsically linked to its war machine. “Turkish tourism directly funds the state’s war on the Kurdish people. In the name of humanity, we ask everyone to boycott holidaying in Turkey. Therefore we call up on every one who stands in solidarity with the Kurdish People to avoid visiting Turkish Holiday resorts. Every penny spent in Turkey, turns into bullets and victimises Kurdish Civilians.” Rosa Gilbert, Co-Secretary of the national Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign “For many years, solidarity campaigns have used boycotts as a way to not only communicate to oppressed people that they have friends and supporters on their side, but to leverage economic pressure over the oppressors. This was used historically against the apartheid South African regime and currently is used by BDS campaigners against Israeli human rights abuses and settlements. Given the situation in Turkey, with the Kurdish people's political representatives locked up in extreme conditions, thousands of activists, party members and representatives from the HDP behind bars, with the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, northern Syria occupied and economically exploited by Turkey, we must put pressure on the Turkish state. “The Turkish economy is in freefall and tourism is a hugely important sector to the economy. Unknowingly, holidaymakers from England and Wales pump huge amounts of money into sustaining Erdogan's regime - he is able to present the "normality" of Turkey to tourists visiting the western Turkish resorts (in contrast to the devastation wreaked on the Kurdish southeast, hidden from view) and can use the economic injection to finance NATO's second largest standing army, which colludes with jihadists in Syria and attacks Kurds across Turkey, Syria and Iraq. This alone should make people pause for thought whilst booking their summer getaways.” Kurdish Solidarity Cymru “We have the potential to raise awareness of the hunger strike, and the fact that Turkey as a state tortures Kurds and supports ISIS. A place totally unsuitable to go on holiday and support economically. “Tourism accounts for 11.6% of Turkey's economy, contributing $26 billion to their economy in 2017. This income helps fuel Turkey’s war on the Kurds. There are also direct links between Turkish holiday and arms companies. Over 2 million people from the UK visited Turkey in 2018, making the UK one of the top 5 countries supporting Turkey's tourist income. “We cannot rely on governments alone to pressure Turkey, attacking their economy through boycotts is an important part of the campaign. Tui profits from facilitating holidays to Turkey - in addition to encouraging individuals to boycott Turkey we will put pressure on the travel agent TUI to drop Turkish holidays from it’s selection.” NOTES FOR THE EDITOR
PHOTOS
FURTHER READING
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