Families end hunger strike in Diyarbakır

AA Photo

Families engaged in a sit-in protest in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir ended a two-day hunger strike June 11. They were protesting for the release of their children who allegedly joined the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The two people who began the hunger strike on June 9 were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the remaining family members continued protesting at Dağkapı Square in Diyarbakır. More than 70 families have started protests against the PKK claiming that the militants kidnapped or persuaded their children to join their organization.

The families were holding a sit-in protest in front of the Diyarbakır Municipality amid demands that the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) mediate for the release of their children.

Municipal officials removed the families from the area, but they have continued the protest across the road. The tents of the families were also removed from the area when they took a two-day break to the protests. The families decided to begin a hunger strike when they returned to the area and saw that their tents had been removed.