Hunger Strikes End on Day 68

On its 68th day, hunger strikes across Turkey ended, following an appeal from PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Zübeyde Teker, president of the Associations of Help for Prisoners' Families Federation, declared the end of hunger strikes early on Sunday.

Öcalan conveyed his massage through Mehmet Öcalan, his brother: "I am calling to everybody who is currently on hunger strikes, esecially the ones who started earliest. Without any hesitation, you can end your strikes right now. It was very meaningful. The hunger strike acheived its goal. Even if some will continue the strikes, it shouldn't be the prisoners."

Selahattin Demirtaş, Peace and Democracy Party co-chair expressed his contentment for Öcalan's meeting with his brother, which Turkish authorities for long time have blocked due to security reasons.

Deputy Aysel Tuğluk visited Diyarbakır Prison on Saturday, briefly after Öcalan's appeal. "Inmates' motivations were good. We brought Öcalan's message to them. They will most likely follow Öcalan's appeal," she said. "We are glad that hunger strikes ended without any deaths."

520 inmates, who consulted their lawyers before their final decision, have annonced the end of their hunger strikes in Izmir Prison, CNNTurk reported on Saturday evening. (EKN/NV)