Bernd Lucke, a former senior member of the far-right Alternative for Germany | Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images Ex-AfD leader: Puigdemont isn’t an ordinary criminal MEP and former German far-right party leader Bernd Lucke has met with Puigdemont in prison.

It is shameful that Carles Puigdemont is "sitting in a prison cell like an ordinary criminal," Bernd Lucke, a former senior member of the far-right Alternative for Germany, said Wednesday after meeting with the former Catalan leader.

Lucke said Puigdemont was a victim of political persecution and should be released while a court decides if he should be extradited to Spain, according to German media.

"I proposed to Mr. Puigdemont and he immediately agreed to give his word of honor to not leave Germany as long as German justice is judging on this extradition request," Lucke said, adding that would be a "statesmanlike and appropriate manner" in which to treat the former regional president.

Puigdemont was arrested in Germany on Sunday under a European arrest warrant issued by Spain after he crossed the border by car from Denmark on his way back to Belgium from Finland. The former Catalan leader faces charges including rebellion and misuse of public funds in Spain over a separatist push last year.

He fled to Belgium to avoid charges after the Catalan parliament declared independence following a referendum deemed illegal by Madrid.

On Sunday, Lucke — a founding member of the AfD who left the party in 2015 and is now an MEP — suggested that Puigdemont seek asylum in Germany

According to the German lawmaker, Puigdemont said he was treated well in prison and has "no reason to complain." In their one and a half hour meeting, Puigdemont also said he will not "back down in his fight for the rights of the Catalans," Lucke said.