Turkish intelligence detains Finnish citizen suspected of PKK leadership in Istanbul

According to Turkish media, Turkey’s intelligence agency has detained a Finnish citizen believed to be leading a branch of the Kurdish PKK organization in Finland. A Finnish-grown daughter of the woman expressed her shock about the situation, stating, “I am extremely worried about my mother.” The daughter reported that her mother traveled to Turkey at the beginning of August and was expected to return last week. When her mother did not arrive for her return flight, the daughter became concerned.

She attempted to contact her mother but was unable to reach her, later discovering that the Turkish intelligence agency, MIT, had detained her at Istanbul airport. On Wednesday, the daughter saw Turkish media headlines claiming that authorities had apprehended the “Finnish leader of the terrorist organization PKK” at the airport. Turkish sources have alleged that the woman has been involved in fundraising for the group.

The PKK, or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, seeks self-governance for Kurds and has been in armed conflict with the Turkish government since the 1980s. Turkey, the European Union, and the United States designate the PKK as a terrorist organization. The daughter dismissed the claims against her mother as absurd, noting the lack of evidence or a trial. “Why on earth would the PKK leader travel to Turkey?” she questioned, emphasizing her mother’s trip was a regular vacation, common for their Iranian Kurdish family.

The daughter expressed concern over the treatment of political dissidents in Turkey, where many are imprisoned for political reasons. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case, and the Finnish embassy is handling the matter. The daughter hopes for her mother’s return to Finland, fearing she may not receive fair treatment in Turkey.