MPs Osman Özcelik, Aysel Tugluk and Fatma Kurtulan of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) are being investigated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office after going to Northern Iraq as part of a delegation receiving the eight soldier hostages from the PKK.

Soldiers held hostage for two weeks 

The soldiers had been taken hostage after fighting between the PKK and the army in the Daglica/Hakkari area on 21 October and they were released on Sunday (4 November).

According to NTV news, the investigation is based on the Anti-Terrorism Law and the Turkish Penal Code.

Delegations acquitted in the past

Similar investigations have been carried out in the past when delegations succeeded in civilian interventions.

In 2005, the PKK had taken private Coskun Kirandi hostage. A delegation negotiating with the PKK for his release was put on trial for “spreading propaganda of an organisation”, but the Malatya 3rd Heavy Penal Court had argued that the initiative to save Kirandi was based on “humane reasons” and had acquitted five activists and four journalists on 24 May.

The delegation had made calls for Kirandi’s release on 11 July 2005, and 25 days later Kirandi was reunited with his family.

Diyarbakir MP and human rights activist Akin Birdal told bianet last week that a delegation which he was part of in 1996 achieved the release of eight soldiers taken hostage by the PKK. Again, the delegation was put on trial, but acquitted on the day the soldiers were set free. (TK/AG)