Swedish MP: We support the hunger strikers' demands

Waldau added that when Turkey will put an end to the repression and massacre of Kurds and political prisoners would be released then it could really be accepted within the European Union.

Ilona Szatmari Waldau, a member of the Swedish Left Party and a member of the European Commission in the Parliament, talked about the isolation imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Waldau said that “Turkey could not be part of Europe unless it sticks to democracy. The best solution would be for Turkey to become a democratic country and respect human rights after which it could be taken as a member.”

Waldau reminded that some countries are members of the European Union even though there are violations going on. "For example, Hungary and Poland. At the moment there are violations that should not be in a democratic country.”

Waldau added that when Turkey will put an end to the repression and massacre of Kurds and political prisoners would be released then it could really be accepted within the European Union.

No sanctions will be imposed

Talking about the possibility of imposing sanctions on Turkey, Waldau said: “Until the European Union considers Turkey as its border to protect it from the refugees flow, sanction will not be imposed. The European Union is silent despite the many violations going on in Turkey.  But even before the refugee flow towards Europe in 2015, violations were taking place in Turkey and yet this did not stop various European Union countries from secure financial aid to Turkey.” 

The European Union's political sanctions should too stressed Waldau, "For example, some meetings with Turkish officials may çağırılma. Ambassador in Turkey could be withdrawn and where Turkey envoys sent back to their country. But Sweden and the European Union countries do not want to do it," he said.

Waldau said that her party supports the hunger strike resistance and the demand of the activist. “Unfortunately - she added - the world is silent and financial aid keeps going to Turkey.”

Commenting on the local elections, Waldau said: “Our sister party, the HDP, had some success in the local elections. But I believe we can expect even worse attacks on Kurds by the regime that wants to punish the people who voted for the HDP. Erdogan will have to accept that the opposition has won in Istanbul. Otherwise we cannot talk about democracy. Europe and the world should reject this kind of attitude and not just in a statement.”

Political prisoners should be released

Waldau said that political prisoners should “all be released. The fact that the PKK is on the European list of terrorist organizations facilitates Erdogan's work. The world remains silent about the arrests of HDP executives, democratically elected representatives and this is not acceptable.”

Criticizing the fact that despite the ruling of some courts in Europe that the PKK is not a terrorist organisation, Waldau said: “This means that Europe is considering Ocalan as a ‘terrorist’ leader and this makes it difficult for the European Union to take a stand against isolation."