Solidarity Activists from Lesvos Call Hunger Strike 19 July, 2017 Lesvos, Greece - Today marks the 22nd day of a hunger strike by imprisoned asylum seekers on the island and Day 1 of the Solidarity Activists Lesvos #freedomstrikelesvos in solidarity with their call for justice, freedom and dignity. The hunger strikers are calling on activists overseas to show their support by fasting for 24 hours and sharing the hashtag on social media. Details below: On 28 June, four men imprisoned in the Moria Detention Centre in Lesvos began a hunger strike to protest their arbitrary arrest and imprisonment in gross violation of International, EU and Greek law. Arash Hampay, the brother of one the prisoners, joined them the following day. Together, they demand the immediate release of asylum seekers in administrative detention and seek to raise awareness of the brutal violation of the rights of asylum seekers indefinitely trapped on Lesvos, facing deprivation, humiliation, psychological and physical abuse, arbitrary arrest and detention at the hands of European and Greek authorities. Despite the prisoners’ deteriorating health, authorities have refused to meet with them. Instead, they have they have routinely confiscated the prisoners’ phones, subjected them to quotidian abuse, denied them visitation rights and access to medical aid together with the basics necessary to continue their protest (water, salt, sugar, sanitary equipment). Today #solidarityactivistslesvos begins a relay hunger strike in solidarity with imprisoned asylum seekers. Each day, one member will fast for 24 hours, and we will continue for the duration of the prisoners’ hunger strike. We hope to shine a light on Europe's despicable treatment of asylum seekers, and to highlight their bravery in resisting incarceration for the crime of seeking safety and a better life. We call on activists from around the world to join our relay strike in solidarity with the prisoners by fasting for one day and publicising their action on social media with #freedomstrikelesvos, holding the attached poster. From Sapphous Square, where he has been staging daily protests throughout his hunger strike, Arash Hampay wrote: "The more oppression we experience, the more determined to continue our hunger strike we become. We do not believe in a life under the burden of oppression and submission. We shall continue our hunger strike in front of the eyes of the people and the state and UNHCR until the day of our freedom.”