Syrian singer Omar Souleyman released from Turkish custody
Souleyman was accused of having links with the the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, a charge his manager denied.
Renowned Syrian singer Omar Souleyman was released from custody in Turkey today after a surprise accusation of terror links.
Souleyman’s manager and an unnamed local security source told Reuters that a local court in the Sanliurfa border province ordered his release after he provided a statement to security forces.
Souleyman is an Arab from northeast Syria who moved to Turkey after the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. He primarily sings in Arabic, but perhaps his biggest hit is the song “Warni Warni” in Kurdish. Souleyman was arrested on Nov. 17 after being accused of belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The group, which fights for greater rights for Kurds in Turkey, is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the United States.
The People’s Protection Units (YPG) is one of the major military forces in Souleyman's home region of Syria. Turkey considers the YPG the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The YPG acknowledges ideological links, but denies any direct connection to the group.
