Turkey slams Czech court over PYD/PKK co-leader release

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag slammed a Czech court's decision Tuesday to allow former PYD/PKK terror group co-leader Salih Muslum walk free.

"The decision will affect [Turkey's] relations with the Czech Republic," Bozdag told journalists.

Bekir Bozdag said the court ruling was against international law.

"This decision is a clear support of terrorism. This is a political decision which cannot be explained in terms of law ... This decision is supporting terrorist acts against Turkey," Bozdag said.

Muslum was detained Sunday in Prague after Turkey called on the Czech Republic for the arrest of the former terrorist co-leader.

Bozdag said that the court ruling came as no surprise for Turkey.

"Because, the EU member countries' stance on Turkey and on the people who have carried out terrorist acts against Turkey are obvious," he said.

The Turkish Interior Ministry had offered a bounty of nearly $1 million on Muslum who is listed as a most wanted terrorist.

Muslum is being sought on charges of disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state, homicide, attempted homicide, damaging public property, and transporting hazardous substances.

The PYD/PKK is a Syrian offshoot of the PKK which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.