S&Ds call for more sensitivity from Turkey over jailed Kurds on hunger strike

The president of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, today expressed serious concerns about the 654 Kurdish prisoners who have now been on hunger strike for 57 days. He called on the Turkish prime minister to show more flexibility on this humanitarian issue.

„The Turkish authorities‘ indifference to this ongoing suffering seems inhumane to us and to European opinion in general – and could create problems for EU-Turkish relations,“ warned Hannes Swoboda.

„According to the report from the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the health of the strikers is seriously deteriorating day by day. We invite the Turkish prime minister to show more sensibility on this human issue, especially for those who have demonstrated their political opposition in a peaceful way.

„We believe that recognition of the justified Kurdish demands by the Turkish authorities could be constructive in the efforts to calm the situation. It could also help open democratic dialogue to end the violence, isolate the terrorists of the PKK and to find political solutions to the Kurdish problem.“