Turkey: Opposition lawmaker remanded in terror probe

By Aziz Aslan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - The spokesman of opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was remanded into custody Tuesday as part of a terror probe, a judicial source said.

A criminal court in southeastern Diyarbakir province ordered Ayhan Bilgen remain in custody pending trial on charges of being a member of an armed terrorist organization, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Bilgen, who is also a deputy for eastern Kars province, was initially arrested on Sunday only to be released after appearing in a Diyarbakir court the same day.

He was arrested again on Monday after the public prosecutor objected to the release.

Last November, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested and 10 of them, including HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.