Turkey arrests dozens of suspects linked to PKK

By Esra Kaymak Avci

ANKARA

Dozens of people were arrested from eastern and southeastern Turkey on Tuesday as part of anti-PKK operations in the country, security and judicial sources told Anadolu Agency.

Mersin Governor’s Office announced that out of the 113 suspects held, 65 remain in custody while the rest were released, including 19 under judicial control.

Also, 42 people, including opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)'s dismissed Akdeniz city Mayor Fazil Turk were still being sought by authorities.

In southeastern Gaziantep province, 15 suspects, including senior officials of HDP and Democratic Regions (DBP) Party were arrested for having links to the PKK/KCK terror group, according to a judicial source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Twenty-one other suspects were presented before the Gaziantep court, which released four of them. The remaining 17 were released under judicial control decision.

In eastern Siirt province, five suspects were arrested on charges of being PKK terror group members, and for "aiding and abetting terrorist group", according to Siirt's Kurtalan Public Prosecution Office.

In southeastern Mardin province, three others were detained, including the Omerli city Mayor Suleyman Tekin, according to the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In northern Samsun province, three university students were also detained for making propaganda for the PKK/KCK terrorist groups and insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Two senior HDP officials in eastern Kars province were also arrested for having links to the PKK/KCK, according to the Kars Police Department's Anti-Terror Office and Kagizman City's Police Department.

HDP's Kars head Sevda Subasi and DPB's Kars head Yeliz Copur were also arrested from the province.

Charges against Subasi and Copur include "membership to a terrorist group," "financing of a terrorist group," and "making propaganda for a terrorist group," according to the judicial sources.

Investigation continues for other four detained members of DHP and DBP.

Meanwhile, Mardin's Midyat Criminal Court of Peace issued a warrant for HDP's Batman Deputy Mehmet Ali Aslan and gave order to bring him "by force" to the court.

The PKK, listed as a terror group by Turkey, the U.S., and EU, has been conducting an armed campaign in southeastern Turkey for more than three decades, killing around 40,000 people.