Detained Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz on Thursday morning went on a protest hunger strike following a district court decision last month to approve Germany’s extradition request for him.
The 49-year-old activist is being prosecuted on charges of being a member of a terrorist organisation, namely the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
On April 19, Larnaca District Court approved his extradition to Germany even though his defense lawyers, who have already launched an appeal before the Supreme Court, insist there is no evidence against him of any criminal offence.
If Ayaz is extradited to Germany his life and dignity are at risk as a successive extradition to Turkey is possible.
In a letter from prison, the Kurdish political refugee who has been residing in Cyprus under such status since 2013 recorded the whole background of the case.
He also noted that this is a political prosecution that has implicated the Larnaca District Court with the “fascist, occupying and colonialist Turkish state”.
He added: “With its decision against me, the District Court not only chose to take sides, but also sided with the fascist Turkish state and what it committed in 1974 against the honourable Cypriot people”.
Turkey invade Cyprus back in 1974 and still maintains troops in the breakaway northern part of the EU-member island.
