Turkey: HDP lawmaker arrested in Ankara

A court in Ankara on Friday released a lawmaker from the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) hours after she was arrested on terrorism charges, a judicial official said.

Ayse Acar Basaran, who represents the southeastern province of Batman, appeared in court on charges of being a PKK member and resisting a public officer, the source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

She was released after submitting a four-page plea document to the court.

The deputy was initially arrested in Ankara earlier Friday on suspicion of aiding and abetting the PKK terrorist group.

Last November, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested and 10 of them, including HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted.

The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.