Release of Syrian Kurd Leader ordered by Czech Court over Turkish Call for Extradition

Saleh Muslim, the former leader of the Democratic Union Party, a Kurdish Syrian organization, also known as the PYD, was arrested in the Czech Republic on Saturday and has been granted a release order from the Czech court on Tuesday. This decision of the Czech Republic dealing with his release has led to growing tension with Turkey, who identifies Muslim as a terrorist and a threat to Turkey. It had also used an Interpol red notice to demand his extradition to Turkey.

Muslim is the major leader of a Kurdish Syrian organization based in northern Syria and allegedly involved with a car bomb attack in Turkey’s capital which took place in March of 2016. This incident led to the death of 36 people and the injury of 125. Turkey deems him as a terrorist and part of the Turkish-based Kurdistan Workers’ Party, also known as PKK, a terrorist organization recognized by both the European Union and the United States. He is one of the most wanted figures of Turkey, with $1 million tied around his name.

Turkey’s wariness towards Muslim has been intensified by its fight with the Kurdish forces along its border for the past three decades as well as the insurgencies taking place within its territory. Turkey believed that the insurgences are linked to PYD activities and have sent forth forces to the Syrian enclave, Afrin. This invasion attempt, however, has received pushback and failed to prevail due to the assistance of the pro-government Syrian forces joining the local Kurdish troops.

Muslim was attending a conference in Prague that took place every six months when he was arrested. A spokeswoman for the Prague Municipal Court, Marketa Puci, stated that he will be released. This decision on Czech Republic’s end means that Muslim is free to leave the country while Turkey can file an extradition request within 40 days. This decision also means tha the Czech Republic is not complying with Turkey’s request of returning Muslim to Turkey for trial and execution, triggering tension between Prague and Ankara.

According to Muslim, he is going to cooperate and remain on EU land, since the process of an extradition request can take up to months and will eventually need to be reviewed by the justice ministry of Czech Republic. He also claimed that Turkey’s allegations of him were wrong and that he was falsely accused and detained.

Muslim further emphasized that he is a citizen of Syria and a politician, questioning Turkey’s validity in requesting him to be handed in to Turkey. He also said he was not sure where his next stop was, but might potentially stay in Finland, which is a member of EU. He vouched for his international influence and involvement in combating terrorism, dismissing Turkey’s accusations of him.

On the other hand, Turkey has deemed the Czech court’s ruling as against international law and a “very clear support for terror”, said Turkish government spokesman Bekir Bozdag. Turkey is determined to capture Muslim and according to Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Turkey will follow Muslim “wherever he goes”.

The Czech Foreign Ministry has also responded to Turkey’s statement as false and invalid and rejected the accusations of it supporting terrorism. The statement the country released said that all procedures have followed international law and convention, and they will handle the extradition request justly as well.

Featured Image via Wikimedia