Syrian Kurds wage hunger strike to decry PYD violations

By Mohamed Misto

HASAKAH, Syria

Twenty-two members of Syria’s Kurdish National Council (KNC) have waged a hunger strike for the last five days to show solidarity with political prisoners being held by the PYD, the Syrian offshoot of PKK terrorist group.

"Our strike will continue until the PYD frees all detained KNC members and Kurdish activists," Marwan Ahmed, one of the hunger strikers, told Anadolu Agency from the city of Qamishli in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province.

He called on international organizations to "reconsider their relationship" with the PYD and "use their influence to secure the release of [PYD-held] political prisoners".

Faisal Youssef, a member of the KNC’s Secretariat, for his part, accused the PYD of "violating" agreements made earlier with the national council.

"Detaining Kurdish activists will not serve the Kurdish cause," said Youssef, urging international rights groups to bring pressure to bear on the PYD.

Local sources told Anadolu Agency -- on condition of anonymity due to security concerns -- that the KNC’s local councils in several parts of Hasakah province also planned to join the ongoing hunger strike.

In mid-August, PYD militants abducted dozens of KNC leaders and members -- along with a number of independent Kurdish activists -- in the cities of Qamishli and Amouda.

The KNC is a coalition of Syrian Kurdish parties generally considered at odds with the PYD.