Syria’s PYD ex-leader arrested in Prague on Turkey’s request
A former leader of Syria’s Democratic Union Party, a major Kurdish group known as the PYD, has been arrested in the Czech capital on Turkey’s request.
Salih Muslim, a former co-chair of the PYD, was detained on Saturday in Prague under an Interpol red notice that was based on Turkey's request for his arrest.
Sources close to the PYD leadership said Muslim was attending a conference in Prague and authorities reportedly arrested him after a Turkish participant took a photograph of him. The source said Muslim went to the conference, which is held every six months to discuss the Middle East situation, based on an invitation from Czech authorities.
Czech police would not elaborate on details of the arrest and only said that a 67-year-old foreigner had been arrested at the request of Turkey's Interpol.
Turkey promised a reward of $1 million for Muslim’s arrest in early February when authorities placed the Kurdish politician on Ankara’s most-wanted list. Muslim still holds huge sway over the PYD even after his resignation from the party’s leadership. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency said a request was being prepared for extradition of Muslim from Czech Republic.
Turkey has fiercely opposed the rising clout of the Kurds in northern Syria, saying the expansion of territories under their control to the east of Euphrates could pose serious security threats to the Turkish borders. Turkey says the PYD and its militant wing, known as the YPG, is an arm of the PKK, an outlawed Kurdish militant group which has been waging a war on Turkish government for the past decades.
The Turkish military launched a massive military operation on January 20 to push back the Kurds from the city of Afrin in northwestern Syria. The operation has hardly reached its planned objectives while Turkish troops have suffered badly among their ranks.
Syria condemns Israel's killing of 36 in 'horrific' strike on Palmyra
Israeli airstrike kills 36 people in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra
Occupied US bases in eastern Syria hit by rocket fire
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran FM: Response to Israeli aggression 'inevitable'
VIDEO | Iran eases the rules for exporting hand-woven carpets
VIDEO | Intl. Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: A stark reminder of Gaza women
Australia denies ex-Israeli minister Shaked visa
VIDEO | 85% of Yemeni displaced people face daily hunger crisis
US House passes bill targeting charities and pro-Palestine groups
VIDEO | Supporting Gaza genocide
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
