The co-chairs of the Basel-Van Twin Cities Association, in Switzerland, wrote a letter after learning of the arrest of former co-mayor of Bostanici Gülcihan Simsek.

The letter, signed by Green deputies and co-chairs of the association, Sibel Arslan and Martin Flückiger, recalled that Simsek has implemented several ground breaking projects, especially to promote and empower women.

The letter added that “it is not the first time that Gülcihan Simsek is in prison. She spent five long years behind bars, without charge and without judgment. The pretext is always the same: ‘Support an illegal organization’. This means the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

But for the Turkish state, every person who is critical of the current AKP regime is “terrorist”. The strong Kurdish women's movement in particular is a thorn in the side of President Erdogan. Together with Gülcihan Simsek, 17 other women, all committed to women's rights, were arrested.

The Swiss association joined the call for the release of political prisoners in Turkey.