Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chair French Helene Flautre on 20 April visited Kurdish strikers in French city of Strasbourg who have been on a fast since 1 March. Flautre asked strikers to end their action and said that “we need you in the struggle for democracy”.

During the visit to Kurdish strikers in St. Maurice Church on the 51st day, Flautre had talks with strikers at the scene and remarked that the Commission has urged the Turkish state to make amendments in the “unacceptable” anti-terror law in line with the intense arrests in Turkey.

Flautre, stating that they shared the same vision with Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) concerning the constitutional solution of the Kurdish question and localization, argued that European Council institutions, CPT in particular, have been “closely interested” in the hunger strike in Strasbourg.

Flautre pointed out that they were mainly concerned over the state of health of strikers and noted that they needed all citizens to take part in the strike to lead to a democratic change, but “healthfully”, she added.

Flautre asked strikers to make a decision to end their action and added; “Because we need you”.