November 12, 2015•Update: November 12, 2015
ISTANBUL
A former Turkish MP was briefly detained at Istanbul Ataturk Airport on Thursday as she attempted to fly to Brussels.
According to airport officials, Sebahat Tuncel -- a former member of parliament for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) -- was at the airport early Thursday morning when a passport control officer established an arrest warrant on charges of "making terrorist propaganda".
Tuncel was taken into custody by a team of airport police and anti-terror officers before being referred to Bakirkoy Courthouse.
She was then released by Bakirkoy 7th Penal Court of Peace which imposed a travel ban.
On Monday, Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul summoned Tuncel -- who has been indicted in six separate cases -- to bear testimony as a "suspect".
She is accused of making laudatory remarks for the terrorist organization PKK during her party's election campaigns in 2008 and 2009 in different districts of Istanbul.
The former HDP lawmaker had earlier been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for being a member of a terrorist organization by the Istanbul High Criminal Court in September 2012.
She was detained on Nov. 5, 2006, because she had allegedly attended meetings with leaders of the PKK, which the U.S. and the European Union also list as a terrorist organization.
Tuncel was then put on trial on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization".
On July 25, 2007, however, she was released after she was elected in that year's general election.
