Turkish airport police on Tuesday denied entry to two French Communist Party members who wanted to attend festivities for Newroz, a celebration of spring’s arrival in traditional Kurdish communities, the Mezapotamya news agency reported.
According to the report Sylvie Jan and Michel Laurent were held at a detention center and were to be put on a plane back to France on Wednesday.
The police justified the denial of entry under Article 6458 of the Foreigners and International Protection Law, which gives authority to local governors to prevent foreign nationals from entering the country due to public safety issues.
Kurds in Turkey celebrate Newroz on March 21 along with the Turkish Alevi community.
The report said Jan and Laurent were also planning to observe the local elections on March 31.