Turkish court remands HDP official on terror charges

VAN, Turkey

A court in eastern province of Van Tuesday remanded in custody a local official of the opposition People's Democratic Party (HDP) for alleged links to the PKK terrorist organization, a judicial source said.

Senar Yesilirmak, who was detained Sunday in relation to a counter-terror investigation, was remanded on charges of "being member of an armed terrorist organization", the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Yesilirmak is the head of the HDP's Baskale district office in Van.

Last November, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested, 10 of whom, including HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.

Reporting by Necat Hazar;Writing by Burcu Arık

VAN, Turkey

Yesilirmak is the head of the HDP's Baskale district office in Van.

Last November, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested, 10 of whom, including HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.

Reporting by Necat Hazar;Writing by Burcu Arık