In a statement published today on 902 portal, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expresses its condolences to the family of Helin Bölek, the 28 year-old member of the Turkish music band Grup Yorum who died on Friday after 288 days of hunger strike.
The KKE condemns the persecutions industry against workers, trade uninionists, party officials, artists, academics and journalists set by Erdogan’s government, which enjoys the tolerance- even encouragement- of the EU, USA and NATO. The Party expresses its solidarity to the people’s struggle and its support to their rights and freedoms.
Helin Bölek passed away yesterday after a long struggle. In a message on Twitter, the “Free Grup Yorum” solidarity committee wrote: “All Helin wanted to do was to sing her songs freely. AKP fascism is responsible for her death. The demands were very simple to meet”.
Bölek and Ibrahim Gökçek,, also member of the band, were on hunger strike (death fasting) for 288 days demanding the termination of persecutions by Erdogan’s government. Last month, in a demonstration of authoritarianism, police forces raided their house in Istanbul, violently detained their comrades and transported Gokcek and Bolek to hospital for enforced medical treatment.
Turkish authorities arbitrarily accuse Grup Yorum for having “relations with terrorism” and since 2016 they have proceeded to numerous arrests and persecutions against the band’s members, while concerts have been banned.