Last night, South Kurdistan’s ruling party KDP had two PYD politicians and a representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria detained at the airport in Hewler (Erbil). The PYD representative in Hewlêr, Mistefa Osman Xelîl, Autonomous Administration representative Cîhad Hesen and PYD politician Mistefa Ezîz Mistê had arrived at the airport at around three o'clock to receive guests.

PYD Co-Chairwoman Eyşe Hiso called on the government of South Kurdistan to immediately release those detained. The PYD is officially active in the autonomous region of South Kurdistan, and there is a permanent representation in Sulaymaniyah, she explained. The KDP supports the Turkish state and the arrests are an indication that the crisis in South Kurdistan is worsening, she said and condemned the attitude of the KDP, recalling the previous issues they experienced at the Semelka border crossing before.

"The arrests of our colleagues are related to the efforts to cause an internal Kurdish war. The KDP must refrain from this policy. Our colleagues are working officially and have done nothing against the government of South Kurdistan. There is not the slightest reason for their arrest. We are against a civil war and against the intensification of conflicts among Kurds. Especially in this day and age, all parties must protect the achievements in the four parts of Kurdistan," said the co-chair of the PYD.

The South Kurdistan representation of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria also released a statement and called for the immediate release of “our representatives who were taken into custody at a time when national unity is needed”.  

“We demand the immediate release of our colleagues and announcement of the reason for their detention,” the statement added.