NEWS DESK - Naime Celik, who was on a hunger strike for 87 days against the isolation in Imrali, stressed that the true architect of the success was the mothers who continued their resistance throughout the protest and called to defend the gains.
The hunger strikes that started under the lead of DTK Co-chair Leyla Guven and spread throughout prisons and abroad with participation from thousands of prisoners demanding an end to the isolation imposed upon PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan were ended on May 26 with Ocalan’s call after he met with his lawyers for the first time in 8 years.
Naime Celik, who had joined the indefinite nonalternating hunger strike in the Diyarbakir Type E Prison on March 1, was released from the prison she was held for 2 years and 6 months on March 28 and continued her hunger strike in her home in the Muradiye neighborhood of the Baglar district with her family.
Celik ended her hunger strike on May 26 on Ocalan’s call and was released from the hospital after receiving treatment. ANF met with Celik at home after her 87 day long hunger strike. Celik spoke about Ocalan’s message and stressed that their resistance will continue.
Celik thanked the mothers who resisted alongside them during the hunger strikes and the Kurdish people in general, and stated that the true architect of the success was the mothers with white scarves.
“THE MAIN ISSUE IS WHAT COMES NEXT”
Celik said the hunger strikes started under the lead of Leyla Guven and spread in waves, to finally conclude in victory, and added that their resistance was not reported on in the media except for the free press tradition, but they managed to make their voice heard despite the lack of opportunities.
Celik said the protest spreading over a long time caused the deterioration of the health of many prisoners and many prisoners turning their protest into a death fast, and added that several people ended their lives to end the Imrali isolation.
Celik said the mothers took action when reaction to the process was delayed and that they remained on the streets despite the violence they were subjected to every day: “All women who had enough of the silence rose up to support our action.
I wish it had been done much earlier. I wish action was taken before 8 of our friends took their own lives and the health of hunger strikers deteriorated this far. Unfortunately that did not happen. The protest spread throughout time.
Friends have suffered permanent damages to their health. Yes we won, this is a victory. But the main issue is what comes next. It is important how our people will support this gain. The gains achieved through paying a price must be defended.”
“THE MESSAGE INCLUDES PROPOSALS FORESEEING THE FUTURE”
Celik said Ocalan’s message is a hope for all peoples and added that the message is also important for the intensity of thought and emotion it includes as it evokes excitement. Celik concluded saying: “Mr. Ocalan is a man with a big heart. We know that he would suffer a lot if one of his comrades were to lose one strand of hair.
Ocalan makes decisions after thinking of the peoples and his comrades. With the message he sent, he first saluted the hunger strikers and then left the decision to end or continue the protest to them. Because he knew that this resistance belongs to all of us.
And he wanted the best for all of us. We knew that his message urging us to stop includes foresight into the future, and we trusted him, so we ended our protest.”