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McGarry “absolutely fine” despite being detained by Turkish special forces

Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry
Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry

Natalie McGarry was detained by Turkish special forces, it is being reported.

The Fife-born MP, who resigned the whip from the SNP while police probe allegations about missing funds from the Women For Independence campaign group, was on a visit to the country with the GMB union.

Local journalists report she was detained in the Sur district of Diyarbakir but she tweeted to say no harm had come to her.

She said: “Thank you for any concerns, but I am safe and absolutely fine.”

A statement from Ms McGarry’s lawyer said the incident occurred after she took at her mobile phone near a security checkpoint to “simply recording the sound of bombs falling across the border in Syria”.

The Glasgow East representative is a pro-Kurdish campaigner who has been critical of the Turkish government.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “A British national was briefly detained and released in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Our embassy staff were in close contact with local authorities.”

A statement issued on behalf of Ms McGarry said: “I can confirm that Natalie McGarry MP was questioned earlier on today but was released shortly thereafter and is grateful to everybody for their messages of support.

“It appears that a member of the Turkish Security Forces became alarmed as Natalie had her mobile phone out near a security check point.

“She was taken away for questioning and it was subsequently explained that she was simply recording the sound of bombs falling across the border in Syria.

“There will be no further statement and Natalie will be returning home soon.”

GMB said the trip was part of a campaign calling on the Turkish Government to release Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan on the 17th anniversary of his imprisonment.

The union’s international officer, Bert Schouwenburg, said: “As Abdullah Ocalan endures another year in captivity, the Turkish government are engaged in a largely unreported dirty war against the Kurdish population in the south of the country.

“Hundreds of men, women and children have been killed and thousands of dwellings destroyed.

“In spite of the genocidal assault by the Turkish state, from his prison cell Ocalan continues to advocate a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question. His freedom is, therefore, an essential prerequisite to a negotiated settlement and we call for his immediate release.”