GREECE-HUNGER STRIKE/REFUGEES Greek MP joins Syrian refugees on hunger strike

Record ID: 274695

  • Title: GREECE-HUNGER STRIKE/REFUGEES Greek MP joins Syrian refugees on hunger strike
  • Date: 6th December 2014
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 6, 2014) (REUTERS) SYRIANS ON HUNGER STRIKE ALONG MAIN ROAD OPPOSITE PARLIAMENT BUILDING VARIOUS OF SYRIANS ON HUNGER SPRAWLED ACROSS THE STREET, LAYING OUT BLANKETS AND A TARP VARIOUS OF SYRIZA PARTY LAWMAKER, YANNIS MICHELOGIANNAKIS, SITTING ON THE GROUND WITH STRIKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) OPPOSITION SYRIZA PARTY LAWMAKER, YANNIS MICHELOGIANNAKIS,
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2YPMCM8T09GKQ8A5LN080BWDL
  • Story Text: A Greek member of parliament joined a group of Syrian refugees on Saturday (December 6) who have been on a hunger strike for the last 13 days in Athens to demand access to the rest of Europe.
    Yannis Michelogiannakis, a Syriza parliamentarian, said he wanted to show support for the Syrians' demands and protest against government policies.
    "As a lawmaker I want to symbolically show Greeks that this is the job of a lawmaker, to leave the warm and fancy chambers of parliament and to take part in the struggle of the people," Michelogiannakis said.
    About 200 Syrian refugees have been holding a hunger strike in front of the Greek parliament since November 24, camping along the pavements facing the building, demanding permission to request asylum in other European Union countries.
    Asylum seekers arriving in the EU can request asylum only in the first country they reach, in this case Greece.
    Government authorities said they were ready to grant the protesters asylum.
    But the Syrians on a hunger strike said being granted asylum in Greece would leave them with little prospects.
    "They offered us asylum, but no job, no home, no future. I am ready to fight but they say that they have 1,240,000 people unemployed. Where is my place in this? We appreciate their offer but its not enough to bring my family, to make good future," said Khal, 43-year old striker from Aleppo, whose family has been separated due to the Syrian conflict.
    "They can make a law, even a temporary law. We try to just to put our point, that we are humans here, and we have the right to be alive, in safety, have future," he added.
    The refugees, including families and children, have laid blankets on along the streets of Athens while boxes of food and water sit on the street corners.
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