Turkey Launches Operation Against PKK Suspects, 282 Arrested Including Journalists and Political Figures

Turkey Launches Operation Against PKK Suspects, 282 Arrested Including Journalists and Political Figures

Istanbul, February 18 – Turkish police have arrested 282 suspects accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), including journalists, politicians, and academics, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The five-day operation is part of Turkey's ongoing efforts to remove elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office, who are accused of ties to militant organizations. This move coincides with hopes for the end of the 40-year conflict between the PKK and the Turkish government. Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan is preparing to make a statement on these efforts, four months after an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged him to call on militants to lay down their arms.

The Journalists’ Union of Turkey condemned the arrest of three journalists. In a statement, the union said, "We cannot accept that they were arrested through house raids; they should have been summoned to the police station."

Among the detained were members of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), leaders of smaller left-wing parties, academics, and a prominent LGBTQ rights activist. Police carried out raids in 51 provinces, including the capital Ankara and the largest city, Istanbul. Minister Yerlikaya stated that the suspects were arrested on charges of conducting PKK propaganda, providing financial support to the organization, recruiting members, and participating in street protests. Police also seized two AK-47 rifles and other weapons.

On Saturday, Turkey removed a pro-Kurdish DEM Party mayor from office in the eastern province of Van, who had been convicted of terrorism-related offenses. This brings the total number of DEM mayors removed from office since the 2024 elections to eight.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish government since 1984, a conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives.