Rojava condemns arrest of its diplomat, PYD officials at Erbil airport

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES) on Thursday condemned the “irresponsible” arrest of a diplomat and two Democratic Union Party (PYD) officials at Erbil International Airport.

The AANES diplomatic representative to the Kurdistan Region, Jihad Hiso, and two members of the PYD, Mustafa Khalil and Mustafa Aziz, were arrested on Thursday by “forces affiliated to the Kurdistan Democratic Party” (KDP), Rojava’s diplomatic representation said in a statement published by Hawar News Agency (ANHA).

The PYD is the ruling Kurdish party in Rojava. 

The diplomatic representation condemned what they called “irresponsible actions” and called for the KDP to immediately release the officials and clarify the circumstances of their arrest. 

Nuri Asaad, the PYD’s representative in the Kurdistan Region, told Rudaw that the three had gone to the airport to welcome intellectuals visiting from Europe. 

The director of Erbil's Asayish told Rudaw that they had no information on the arrests. Rudaw English contacted airport officials who were not available for comment.