PKK’s alleged regional leader arrested in Germany

MAINZ, Germany – A Turkish national alleged to be the head of the Kurdistan Workers‘ Party (PKK) in the German state of Saxony was arrested in police raids against the outlawed group.

A large-scale police raid on Wednesday targeted the PKK in the German cities of Dresden and Hannover. A 44-year-old Turkish national, “accused of being a member of a foreign terrorist organization,” was arrested.

Dozens of police officers raided seven buildings in the German states of Saxony and Lower-Saxony, searching for evidence against alleged PKK members.

The arrested regional head is accused of being the leader of the PKK in Saxony and of its European affiliate, the Civaka Demokratik a Kurdistan (CDK). This would make him “a member of a foreign terrorist organization,”,since the PKK is banned in Germany and the European Union.

Kurds in Germany are enraged about the raids.

Dilan Kaya, who lives in Lower-Saxony, said: “This is just not right! ISIS affiliates are walking freely through the streets of Germany, propagating their insane ideology and recruiting more jihadists for their barbaric war, but Kurds whose only crimes here in Germany is the blocking of streets and spraying ‘Freedom’ on walls, are being raided on a monthly basis.”

According to investigators, the suspect had procured money and recruited fighters for the PKK. He also was responsible for conducting party propaganda amongst Kurds in Germany and Europe.

“This is surely part of the deal between Merkel and Erdogan,” said Cekdar Buyuk, a Kurd living in eastern Germany referring to the leaders of Germany and Turkey. “This is not okay! The PKK haven’t done anything illegal in Germany for years! It’s just a farce!”

Last week, German chancellor Angela Merkel visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks over Europe’s refugee crisis and how Turkey can help the continent manage the huge influx.