In Turkey, according to media reports, 13 or people have been arrested who have criticized Turkish military mission in norrn Syria. On Monday, Ministry of Interior informed that re had been 311 arrests for "terrorist propaganda" since beginning of offensive.

The now detained had supported in social networks a text of Turkish Medical Association (TTB), in which it is warned that war causes "irreparable problems". The text published last week also says ' No to war, Peace Now '. The police had arrested eleven top representatives of largest Turkish medical association at beginning of week, and three are now free again.

Claudia Roth calls Foreign Minister to act

Among detainees, for example, Ali Erol, co-founder of Kaos GL, is one of largest LGBT activist groups in Turkey. On Twitter, group published an opinion. There is no clear information about why Erol was arrested. The association cites its lawyers, according to which arrest warrant refers to Erol posts in social media.

Urgent RELEASEOur press release on detention of our co-founder Ali Erol. Pic.twitter.com/SJ0R7DLl4O

— Kaos GL (@KaosGL) February 2, 2018

In a Facebook post, green politician Claudia Roth asked Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) to apply for Erol. "... we must not forget many political hostages that are now also Ali Erol. Because forgetting kills, "wrote Roth, who is also vice-President of Bundestag. According to Prokurdish HDP party, adviser to former Co-Chairmen of party, Songül Akbay, should also have been arrested.

Turkey is currently conducting an offensive against Kurdish militias (YPG) in North Syrian region of Afrin. The aim is to expel YPG from Turkish-Syrian border area. Turkey accuses YPG of being closely associated with banned Labour Party of Kurdistan (PKK), which has been fighting against Turkish state for decades.

Time online Letter from 90 artists and scientists to Merkel

In Germany, however, more than 90 artists, cultural workers and scientists called on German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) in a letter to clearly refer to Turkish military offensive position. Turkey and or actors in region tried to "destroy" "hopeful development" in Kurdish regions, it said. The letter was signed by actress Maria Schrader, musician Bela B., actor Peter Lohmeyer and artist Daniel Richter.

The opposition had also criticized federal government. The chairman of left, Katja tipping, accused government of making a "knee-fall" before President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with her "silence to Turkish War of aggression."

Internationally, re was also criticism of decision of a Turkish court to prolong pre-trial detention of Turkish Amnesty International President Taner Kilij. The court in Istanbul had, on Thursday, tipped a different decision from previous day. Kilij is said to belong to movement of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, accused of having planned failed coup in mid 2016. The new arrest Kılıçs was not comprehensible, said Daniel Höltgen, spokesman of Council of Europe. "The rule of law situation is increasingly confusing in Turkey."

Date Of Update: 03 February 2018, 12:03