Tension rises between locals, workers over alleged PKK propaganda in Turkey’s Kütahya

KÜTAHYA

AA photo

Tension rose late on Aug. 17 in Kütaya’s Altıntaş district over allegations that some workers who came to the district from southeastern provinces to work were making propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The workers allegedly shouted PKK slogans while touring the district in a vehicle and “used foul language” defaming the Turkish Republic, which led to a group of locals to gather in front of the building accommodating the workers at the Dörtyol Square.  

Tension in the district eventually led authorities to dispatch many police officers and gendarmerie forces from central Kütahya to the district. Altıntaş district governor Musa Kazım Çelik and Kütahya provincial police chief Hasan Çevik arrived at the scene to soothe the locals’ anger. 

The locals told Altıntaş they did not want sympathizers of the PKK in their district, after which Çevik announced to the crowd that they had detained two suspects, stressing the state would “undertake whatever is necessary.” 

The crowd dispersed toward the morning of the next day, with the police taking the two detained suspects to the provincial security directorate.