February 08, 2018•Update: February 08, 2018
By Halil Demir
ISTANBUL
At least three suspects were arrested in Turkey over charges of spreading terror propaganda on the social media, police sources said Thursday.
Turkish police arrested Mehmet Zeki Kilic, the co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party’s (HDP) Sancaktepe district representation in Istanbul, said a source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.
Kilic is accused of spreading propaganda of the PKK terrorist group on social media.
In the northwestern province of Tekirdag, police arrested two people over terror propaganda against Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch on social media.
A Turkish court remanded in custody one of the suspects, the source said.
Meanwhile, in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakir, a court remanded in custody Mehmet Arslan, the co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) over making terror propaganda on social media and his statements on Turkey’s operation in Syria.
He is accused of being a member of an armed terrorist organization, the source added.
Arslan had been arrested on Feb. 6.
The propaganda against the Turkish military began soon after Turkey launched the military operation in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin.
PYD/PKK terrorist organization posted fake and distorted photographs on the social media and falsely claimed that they were from Afrin.
On Jan.20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin.
The Turkish General Staff has said the Afrin operation was aimed at establishing security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as protecting the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.
It said the operation was being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law.
The military also said "utmost diligence" was shown to avoid collateral damage to civilians.
Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Bashar Assad regime left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.
