WOMAN LIFE FREEDOM

Australian woman arrested on terror charges in Turkey, local media report


By Jorge Branco

Sep 24, 2024

An Australian woman has been arrested in Turkey on allegations of being part of a terrorist organisation, Turkish media report.

The woman, Cigdem Aslan, is accused of being active in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) separatist group's Australian arm.

She was arrested on Saturday in an operation carried out by the country's National Intelligence Organisation and Istanbul police's counterterrorism unit.

Cigdem Aslan (centre) was allegedly active in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) separatists group's Australian arm. (TRT)

Intelligence officers had reportedly been tracking her for some time and decided to act when they learned she was planning to fly back to Australia.

She later fronted court and was formally charged.

The PKK is fighting for an autonomous Kurdish state in south-east Turkey.

The insurgency has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s and Turkey and its Western allies, including Australia, have labelled it a terrorist organisation.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they are providing support.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian woman detained in Türkiye," the spokesperson said.

"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment."

- Reported with the Associated Press