EU criticism of Kurdish MP detentions unacceptable: Turkey FM

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has dismissed as "unacceptable" the European Union's criticism of the arrests of pro-Kurdish opposition lawmakers, saying the bloc is strongly supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group.

“Most EU countries give very strong support to the PKK. We will not accept lessons from them on the rule of law," Cavusoglu told reporters in comments broadcast live on television on Friday.

Turkish security forces detained two co-leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) along with a number of other lawmakers from the second-biggest opposition bloc in parliament early on Friday.

Selahattin Demirtas was arrested at his home in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir and Figen Yuksekdag at her residence in the capital, Ankara, as “part of an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.”

The EU on Friday voiced deep concern over the recent arrests of the two HDP co-leaders and at least 12 of its lawmakers.

“Extremely worried for arrest of HDP Demirtas and other HDP MPs,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini wrote on her Twitter page.

She added that she is in contract with authorities and had called a meeting of EU ambassadors to be held in Ankara.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said the Turkish charge d’affaires should be summoned to discuss the arrests.

“The overnight arrests of politicians and lawmakers from the Kurdish represent a further drastic intensification of the situation in the eyes of the foreign minister,” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July “can’t be a justification for silencing or even imprisoning the political opposition.”

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal also slammed Turkish security forces for arresting the Kurdish politicians and said, “France calls on Turkey to respect the rule of law and fundamental rights” including democracy and freedom of the press.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, meanwhile, said the arrests were “extremely worrying” and warned that the move can fuel the “already existing tensions” in Turkey.

“Turkish government should return to dialogue with the opposition. Peace process with the PKK is necessary for the country’s further democratization and stability,” she said in a statement.

Spokespeople for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani also said the detention of pro-Kurdish lawmakers may go “beyond what is permissible.”

“There needs to be a presumption of innocence when you’re going to suspend somebody from their job. When you’re going to detain somebody, you need to do this in line with due process,” she said.

Tensions have been running high in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast since a ceasefire declared by the PKK collapsed in 2015 in the wake of Ankara’s military operations against the Kurdish group’s positions both inside the country as well as in northern Iraq.

In response to the military raids, PKK militants have stepped up their attacks against Turkish security forces over the past 18 months.

Turkey has also been under a state of emergency since the failed military coup against the government in mid-July. Ankara has launched a heavy-handed crackdown against those suspected of having links with the coup plotters.

Critics say the Turkish government is using the abortive coup as a pretext to suppress the opposition.

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