Czech court orders release of Syrian Kurd leader
A CZECH court on Tuesday ordered the release of a Syrian Kurdish leader, causing a diplomatic row with Turkey which had sought his detention pending an extradition request.
Saleh Muslim formerly headed the PYD, the major component of a coalition that governs Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria and deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
He was detained in Prague at the weekend at the request of Ankara, which accuses him of aggravated murder and disrupting the Turkish state.
“The court ruled Mr Muslim will be released,” said Marketa Puci, a spokeswoman for the Prague Municipal Court. She said the court ruling had taken effect as both the state attorney and the defence gave up their rights to appeal.
The decision means Turkey can file an extradition request within a 40-day period, but Muslim is free to leave the country. He told the court he would remain on European Union territory and cooperate in further proceedings.
Assessment of an extradition request can take months and if courts find it acceptable, the final decision rests with the Czech justice minister.
Turkey described the court ruling as political and against international law.
“It is a decision that is a very clear support for terror. The decision will negatively impact relations between Turkey and the Czech Republic,” Turkish government spokesman Bekir Bozdağ said.
The Czech Foreign Ministry said any extradition request would be handled according to an international convention and law. “The Czech Republic strongly rejects any accusation of support of international terrorism,” it said in a statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey would follow Muslim “wherever he goes”.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Prague, Ahmet Necati Bigali, said the decision was “not befitting our friendship with the Czech Republic. This decision has surely cast a shadow over our relations.”
Muslim is on a “wanted terrorists” list on the Turkish Interior Ministry’s website, accused of links to two bombings in Ankara that killed dozens of people.