German Kurd arrested in Turkey for ‘PKK propaganda’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A German Kurd was arrested on charges of making propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Der Tagesspiegel reported on Thursday.

Ilhami A., 46, was arrested on Wednesday in the province of Elazig. Shortly afterward, a court ordered to keep him in custody.

His lawyer, Ercan Yildirim, told the German Press Agency (DPA) on Thursday that Ilhami is accused of propaganda for the PKK through social media.

The German Foreign Ministry said it is aware of the situation and the German embassy in Ankara would provide the accused with consular assistance.

The Kurdish man works as an independent taxi driver in Hamburg. He visited his mother in the village of Saribasak. Eyewitnesses said the Turkish police searched their home in the early morning before arresting the German citizen.

According to official figures, at least seven other Germans are currently in prison for “political reasons.”

German Dennis E., also accused of making propaganda for the PKK through social media, was arrested in Hatay, southern Turkey in July.

Turkey views the PKK as a “terrorist” organization. Their fighters, now headquartered in the Qandil mountains, have been fighting an almost four-decade-long insurgency against Ankara which has resulted in about 40,000 casualties from both sides.

In late July, the German Foreign Ministry softened travel advice for its citizens in Turkey after Ankara lifted a controversial state of emergency that had been in place for two years.

However, the travel advice still warned German citizens that contacts with the PKK, the Gulen movement, Islamic State, or with affiliated companies or persons, could lead to an arrest, even if the person being arrested is not aware of these links.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany