Scottish pro-Kurdish MP detained by Turkish special forces
Scottish pro-Kurdish MP detained by Turkish special forces
A Scottish MP was briefly held by security forces in Turkey after using her mobile phone at a checkpoint.
2 min read
Natalie McGarry was detained in the Sur district of Diyarbakir [Getty]
A Scottish MP has confirmed she is "absolutely fine" after being held by Turkish security forces.
Natalie McGarry was questioned by Turkish Special Forces for allegedly using her phone at a security checkpoint.
McGarry took to her Twitter account later to say she was "safe and absolutely fine".
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Initial reports said McGarry had been arrested, however a tweet posted on her account denied the story, saying she was "just questioned".
"It appears that a member of the Turkish Security Forces became alarmed as Natalie had her mobile phone out at a security checkpoint," a statement from her lawyer read.
"She was taken away for questioning and it was subsequently explained that she was simply recording the sounds of bombs falling across the border with Syria."
The Glasgow MP is a vocal advocate of Kurdish rights and has openly criticised the Turkish government for its crackdown on pro-Kurdish campaigners.
In a status posted on her Facebook page, McGarry questioned the lack of voices speaking for the Kurds, calling events in Diyarbakir "horrific".
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Speaking to The Independent, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said "a British national was briefly detained and released in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
"Our embassy staff were in close contact with local authorities".
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