Court releases HDP deputy linked to terror probe

ADIYAMAN, Turkey 

Opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Behcet Yildirim, who was detained earlier on Monday, has now been set free by a court in southeastern Adiyaman province, according to a judicial source.

Yildirim still faces an international travel ban, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said.

The parliamentarian was arrested at the Adiyaman Airport after he failed to answer summons linked to a counterterrorism probe conducted by the regional prosecutor's office last week. 

Yildirim, an MP from Adiyaman, faces several charges, including being a member of a terrorist organization and making propaganda for a terror organization.

In November 2016, a total of 13 HDP lawmakers were also arrested, 10 of whom, including HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag remain in custody pending trial on terrorism-related charges.

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

Turkey’s 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.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year and has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,100 security force members and civilians, including women and children.