Czech Republic halts extradition proceedings against Salih Muslim
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Czech Republic has halted extradition proceedings against Kurdish leader Salih Muslim as he is no longer in the country.
“The state attorney has halted the proceedings because the person is not on the Czech Republic’s territory and thus the extradition process cannot continue,” said Stepanka Zenklova, a spokesperson for the state attorney office, Reuters reported.
Muslim, former co-chair and founder of the PYD, the ruling party in Rojava, northern Syria, was briefly detained in Prague last month at the request of Ankara. He was released on condition he cooperate with extradition proceedings and remain within the European Union.
His lawyer, Miroslav Krutina, said that with today’s decision, Muslim is no longer required to remain within the EU.
“He is free,” Krutina said, according to Reuters.
Ankara also made a request to Germany for Muslim’s extradition after the Kurdish leader attended a rally in Berlin protesting Turkey’s military operation in Afrin.
German officials have said they will consider the request.
Muslim is facing several terror-related charges in Turkey because of his position within the PYD. Ankara alleges the PYD is a branch of the PKK, a named terror group. The PYD denies the charge.
“The state attorney has halted the proceedings because the person is not on the Czech Republic’s territory and thus the extradition process cannot continue,” said Stepanka Zenklova, a spokesperson for the state attorney office, Reuters reported.
Muslim, former co-chair and founder of the PYD, the ruling party in Rojava, northern Syria, was briefly detained in Prague last month at the request of Ankara. He was released on condition he cooperate with extradition proceedings and remain within the European Union.
His lawyer, Miroslav Krutina, said that with today’s decision, Muslim is no longer required to remain within the EU.
“He is free,” Krutina said, according to Reuters.
Ankara also made a request to Germany for Muslim’s extradition after the Kurdish leader attended a rally in Berlin protesting Turkey’s military operation in Afrin.
German officials have said they will consider the request.
Muslim is facing several terror-related charges in Turkey because of his position within the PYD. Ankara alleges the PYD is a branch of the PKK, a named terror group. The PYD denies the charge.