Turkey detains niece of Syrian Kurdish politician Saleh Muslim: Family

News About Turkey - NAT
2 Min Read

Turkey has detained the niece of an influential Syrian Kurdish politician, himself wanted by Ankara, the family said Sunday.

Dalia Mahmoud Muslim is a niece of Saleh Muslim, who is close to Syria’s semi-autonomous Kurdish administration.

She was “handed over to the Turkish authorities and their intelligence services” after travelling to neighboring Iraq’s Kurdish region six months ago for medical treatment, her father Mahmoud Muslim said.

Writing on Facebook, he said his daughter had been preparing to return to Syria and that her apparent transfer to Turkish custody had “surprised” the family.

The Iraqi Kurdish authorities shoulder “responsibility for her kidnapping or handing her over to Turkish intelligence,” he said, adding that any words attributed to her were “false” and obtained “under pressure.”

Official Turkish Anadolu had on Saturday reported a different version of her detention. Citing security sources, it said that she had “handed herself in” to Turkish security forces on July 15 in a southern province of Turkey.

Saleh Muslim was himself briefly detained in Prague in 2018 and Turkey demanded he be extradited, on the basis of an arrest warrant Ankara issued two years earlier in connection with an attack in Ankara that killed 29 people in February 2016.

He denied any link to the attack, and was released.

Iran, Turkey likely coordinating attacks on Kurdish areas, say experts, mayor

Turkish soldier dead after explosion in Syria’s Idlib: Turkey defense minister

The Kurds established their semi-autonomous administration in the vast stretches of northeastern Syria that border Turkey during the ongoing civil war.

The administration is viewed with hostility by Turkey, which sees the main Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, as “terrorists” and an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The PKK has waged a three-decade insurgency inside Turkey.

Dalia Muslim’s father says she belongs to the YPG’s female contingent.

Saleh Muslim was long co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the YPG’s political arm.

Source: Al-Arabiya

Share This Article
Founded by a small group of Turkish/Kurdish scholars who have been subjected to persecution at the hands of the Erdogan dictatorship, News About Turkey (NAT) has emerged as a platform that is both exceptional and invaluable. Our objective is to provide you with a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the events and developments in Turkey (Türkiye), a country with profound historical and geopolitical importance, a vibrant culture, and a strategic location. Our founders, who have been purged by the Erdogan regime after the so-called coup attempt, are aware of the significance of journalism that is both free and independent. Because of this understanding, we are committed to providing reporting and analysis that is both objective and comprehensive. To give you the most thorough coverage of Turkey, we go further than just scratching the surface. Keep in touch with us so that you can have a better understanding of Turkey's developing story as well as vital and comprehensive news items. Whether you are a resident of Turkey, a member of the Turkish/Kurdish diaspora, or simply someone who has a strong interest in this vital country, we are the most reliable source for news that not only informs but also inspires and engages you.
Leave a comment