Kurdish MPs' arrest in Belgium unwelcome

10.00.00am GMT Fri 5th Mar 2010

Reacting to the news that two Kurdish former MPs from Turkey, Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar, have been detained among a group of 30 people arrested in Belgium, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"The detention of Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydarat by the Belgian authorities is very surprising. I have known Remzi Kartal for 10 years, and have no reason to believe that he or Zubeyir Aydar have done anything other than work for peace in Turkey through a political solution to the Kurdish issue."

"European governments should support the efforts for a political dialogue, not get drawn into a domestic Turkish operation which actually undermines those democratic Kurdish politicians who are trying to end the era of conflict and terrorism."

ENDS

Note to Editors

Belgian police reportedly raided 25 addresses in an operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar, both former Turkish MPs for the banned Democracy Party (DEP), and Mr. Eyeyp Duru, official representative in Brussels of its successor the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), were among the 30 people arrested.

London-based campaign group Peace in Kurdistan is organising an emergency protest outside the Belgian embassy in London tomorrow, Friday 5 March, at 12noon at which a message from Sarah Ludford will be read out as she is away and cannot be present.