Solidarity With Grup Yorum

On the 39th anniversary of Bobby Sands, the family of Patsy O'Hara, express solidarity with political prisoners on hunger strike in Turkey.

We, the family of Irish Republican Socialist freedom fighter Patsy O'Hara who died on Hunger strike in Long Kesh concentration camp in 1981 send our deepest condolences with love and solidarity to the families of Anatolian Revolutionary Socialists and Grup Yorum members Helin Bölek and Mustafa Koçak who both recently died as a result of Hunger strike.

We would like to appeal to everyone, Republican, Socialist, or otherwise to show their solidarity with Grup Yorum by demanding that the Turkish government meet the demands of those on Hunger strike.

These demands are:

1. A withdrawal of all restrictions on the band, an ending of state harassment of Grup Yorum members, allowing Grup Yorum members to take their music on tour to other countries, a lifting of the ban on Grup Yorum music, their concerts and freedom to express themselves as artists.

2. The removal of all band members names from Turkish state terrorist lists.

3. The immediate release from gaol of band members; Ali Aracı, Bergün Varan, Emel Yesilirmak, Sultan Gokcek.

In comradeship
The O'Hara Family.