As part of an investigation launched into the outlawed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Burcu Çelik was arrested by a Muş court on Wednesday for “membership in an armed terrorist organization” and “attempting to destroy the unity of the state and nation.”
Çelik was reportedly sent to Muş Prison late on Wednesday.
With the arrest of Çelik, the total number of pro-Kurdish deputies in jail has reached 14 including the party’s co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.
Turkey has stepped up its crackdown on Kurdish politicians in recent months. Trustees have been appointed to dozens of municipalities in the country’s predominantly Kurdish Southeast, while hundreds of local Kurdish politicians have been arrested on terror charges.
The developments have attracted widespread criticism from the region and Western countries. (Turkey Purge)