Greek MP joins Syrian refugees on hunger strike
- 9 years ago
Hundreds of Syrian refugees hold a hunger strike in front of Greece's parliament in Athens.
They've been here since November 24th, protesting the government's refusal to help them move to other European countries...
...and on Saturday, a Greek lawmaker joined them.
(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) OPPOSITION SYRIZA PARTY LAWMAKER, YANNIS MICHELOGIANNAKIS, SAYING:
"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."
Asylum seekers arriving in the EU can request asylum only in the first country they reach.
But one Syrian man says there is no opportunity here.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 43-YEAR OLD SYRIAN FROM ALEPPO ON HUNGER STRIKE, KHAL, SAYING:
"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?"
About 46,500 Sy
They've been here since November 24th, protesting the government's refusal to help them move to other European countries...
...and on Saturday, a Greek lawmaker joined them.
(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) OPPOSITION SYRIZA PARTY LAWMAKER, YANNIS MICHELOGIANNAKIS, SAYING:
"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."
Asylum seekers arriving in the EU can request asylum only in the first country they reach.
But one Syrian man says there is no opportunity here.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 43-YEAR OLD SYRIAN FROM ALEPPO ON HUNGER STRIKE, KHAL, SAYING:
"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?"
About 46,500 Sy