Turkey arrests German MP for social media posts
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A German official of Kurdish heritage said on Sunday that she was arrested for hours when she traveled to Turkey in early August for social media posts she made in 2019.
Gökay Akbulut, 40, is a member of the German parliament for the far-left Die Linke party.
Reuters reported, citing Akbulut as saying, that she was arrested in Antalya Province on allegations of “terror propaganda.”
Akbulut previously criticized the Turkish government on her official website for “waging a brutal war against the Kurdish population inside and outside its borders.”
Turkish authorities released Akbulut shortly after she contacted the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is not clear for which social media posts she was arrested. However she added that she would still travel to Turkey and express her opinion about the Turkish government.
Akbulut has previously demanded to lift the ban imposed on the activities of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in 1993. The PKK has been in the EU list of terrorist organizations since 2022.
In recent years the relations between Germany and Turkey witnessed tension due to German criticism of the policies of Erdogan’s government abroad and at home.
Turkey always suppresses those who express their opinions that go against the Turkish government.
In April, the Turkish authorities carried out raids and arrested at least three Kurdish journalists, accusing them of having ties to the PKK.
In May, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the Turkish authorities to stop using the courts to muzzle opposition media outlets.