Kurdish separatism in Turkey

Sweden's parliament on Wednesday passed new legislation to ban activities linked to extremist groups, as it beefs up its terror laws, a key demand from Türkiye to approve Stockholm's NATO membership bid.

With 268 votes in favour, the law-- which criminalises "participation in a terrorist organisation" - was adopted by Sweden's 349-seat parliament and will enter into force on June 1.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has "neutralized" a senior PKK member the military intelligence manager of the organization stated during an operation in northern Syria.

"We continue to destroy their hideouts on their heads tirelessly," the ministry said in a social media post, elaborating that the terrorists were neutralized in the Gara region.

"Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces will continue to tear down the terror hideouts with determination."

Speaking at an iftar dinner in Kayseri province, Akar highlighted Turkey's fight against terrorism and said that the fight against terrorism continues resolutely.
He said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is doing everything to protect the country's borders and its people.

The PKK's April 16 attack in northern Syria, in which four Turkish soldiers were wounded, has been "retaliated," and a total of 10 terrorists have been neutralized, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

The treatment of the soldiers injured after the attack on the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield operations' base areas is ongoing, Akar told the media on April 17.

A total of 37,732 terrorists have been neutralized since July 24, 2015, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

The Constitutional Court has tasked a rapporteur for penning the report on the closure case of the Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) after the party refused to make a verbal defense before the court on April 11.

The decision by the Migration and Asylum Ministry to proceed with the gradual closure of the Lavrio refugee camp due to objective criteria, namely the unsuitability of the site to continue hosting refugees, will also satisfy Turkey, which has constantly demanded its shutdown as it considers it a "training camp" for Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.

Members of Pro-Kurdish party Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) shout slogans against government in Istanbul, Turkey, 25 September 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

"Our party will not give a verbal self-defence on April 11 against the attitude of the Constitutional Court, which means interference in free and fair elections," the HDP said in a statement.

Sweden should take more concrete steps in terms of fighting anti-Türkiye terror on its soil in order to be admitted to NATO, the Turkish foreign minister said, calling on Stockholm to focus on efforts to curb finance and propaganda means of the terror organizations.