Turkish journo temporarily detained for interviewing former PYD co-chair Salih Muslim

Duvar English

Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation into journalist Nevşin Mengü after her interview with former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim. 

The office argued that the interview contained statements “praising a terrorist organization,” Demirören News Agency reported.

As the authorities detained Mengü on Dec. 14, she was later released under judicial control measures and with an international travel ban.

In a statement on social media, Mengü previously on Dec. 13 said, “As you know, I have just returned from Syria and there are preparations for the post-Assad era. As we enter this new era, I wanted to get the assessment of Salih Muslim, who told the foreign press that he wanted to talk to Turkey.”

“However, I was warned by legal experts that this interview could be considered as praising crime and criminals according to the Turkish Penal Code. Therefore, I have removed the interview in question. I would like to avoid misunderstandings,” she added.

Turkey says the PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and therefore deems it a “terror organization.”

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