ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities detained 19 people including two Kurdish deputy mayors in the northeastern province of Kars as part of a terrorism related operation, state-owned Anadolu news agency said on Thursday.
The detainees included local party heads from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and municipality council members in the province, Anadolu said.
The authorities detained suspects as they were determined to have aided Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members, attended meetings and operated under their orders, Anadolu said.
Last week, the HDP mayor of Kars along with dozens others were detained over violent protests in 2014 against an attack on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani.
President Tayyip Erdogan’s government accuses the HDP of having links to the PKK militant group, leading to prosecutions of thousands of its members and some leaders. The HDP denies such links.
Since March 2019 local elections, mayors have been replaced by trustees in more than half of the roughly 65 municipalities won by the HDP. Ankara has appointed governors and other local authorities as trustees in those districts.
The former co-leaders of the HDP have both been jailed since 2016 on terrorism charges, with several other prominent party members accused of supporting terrorism over what the government says are links to the PKK.
Turkey detains Kurdish opposition members over terrorism links
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Turkey detains Kurdish opposition members over terrorism links
- The detainees included local party heads from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and municipality council members in the province
Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim arrives in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived Saturday in Abu Dhabi, state news agency QNA reported.
The Qatari ruler and his accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at the Al-Bateen Airport by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
The Qatari delegation was also welcomed by Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum; Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan; Adviser to the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Nahyan; Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the UAE Dr. Sultan Salmeen Al-Mansouri, along with a number of senior officials.
Sheikh Tamim headed to Abu Dhabi on a fraternal visit to the UAE, QNA reported.
Sheikh Tamim is accompanied by Personal Representative of the Emir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, and a number of senior officials.
