51 people detained for ‘PYD, PKK promotion’ on social media in Turkey

Some 51 suspects were detained across Turkey on Jan. 21 for allegedly promoting the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on social media, according to a security official.


On Jan. 21, investigations were launched by the chief public prosecutor’s offices in the provinces of Ankara, Van, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Muş and Istanbul against some social media users who allegedly voiced support for the PYD and the PKK.

As part of the investigation by the Diyarbakır’s Chief Public Prosecutors Office, eight people were detained in the southeastern province when anti-terrorism units carried out simultaneous operations across the province, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The detentions came after the provincial chief public prosecutor’s office issued detention warrants for 17 people, accusing them of making propaganda for the organizations via social media as well as “provoking Kurdish-origin people to take to the streets by sharing provocative and delusive photographs” about Turkey’s ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin, which is controlled by the PYD.
  [hurriyetdailynews.com]
 23/1/18