Saleh Muslim, Syrian Kurdish leader wanted by Turkey, 'arrested by Interpol'
Saleh Muslim, Syrian Kurdish leader wanted by Turkey, 'arrested by Interpol'
The former chairman of the Syrian Kurdish PYD party has been arrested in Prague, according to Turkish reports
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Saleh Muslim has been wanted by Turkey since 2016 [Getty]
The former leader of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) Saleh Muslim has been arrested by Interpol in the Czech capital on Saturday, according to Turkey's Anadolu news agency.
Muslim's PYD party is considered by many an offshoot to Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), separatist rebels that Turkey, the EU and the US considers a terrorist organisation.
The Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Muslim and 47 other high-ranking officials of the PYD in November 2016.
Earlier this month, the Turkish Interior Ministry included Muslim on a list of most wanted terrorists, and offered $4 million Turkish Lira (nearly $1 million) as a reward for his extradition.
Muslim was one of the driving forces behind the the Kurds taking control of Rojava in northern Syria in March 2016, an autonomous Kurdish region consisting of the cantons of Jazira, Kobane and Afrin.
Since 20th January, Turkey has been leading an offensive to oust US-backed Kurdish forces from northern Syria, whom it designates as terrorists.
Muslim's PYD party is considered by many an offshoot to Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), separatist rebels that Turkey, the EU and the US considers a terrorist organisation.
The Turkish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Muslim and 47 other high-ranking officials of the PYD in November 2016.
Earlier this month, the Turkish Interior Ministry included Muslim on a list of most wanted terrorists, and offered $4 million Turkish Lira (nearly $1 million) as a reward for his extradition.
Muslim was one of the driving forces behind the the Kurds taking control of Rojava in northern Syria in March 2016, an autonomous Kurdish region consisting of the cantons of Jazira, Kobane and Afrin.
Since 20th January, Turkey has been leading an offensive to oust US-backed Kurdish forces from northern Syria, whom it designates as terrorists.
Nearly 120 civilians have been killed so far in the offensive according to several estimates, a claim Turkey denies.
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