Kobanê Canton Council co-chair demands release of Cihan Hesen

PYD members Mistefa Osman Xelil and Mistefa Eziz Mistê, who were arrested by KDP forces on 10 June, were released on 29 July. Autonomous Administration Hewler Representative Cihad Hesen, who was detained with Xelil and Mistê, was not released and there has been no news of him for 65 days.

KDP officials have not made any statement about why the diplomats were detained, while all attempts by the Autonomous Administration to learn where Hesen is being held failed. According to the information received, Cihad Hesen’s health is deteriorating.

Kobanê Canton Council co-chair, Leyla Ehmed, called on the KDP to say where they are holding Cihad Hesen.

Ehmed said that the South Kurdistan Government made a mistake and added: “The KDP opposes the national interests and unity of the Kurdish people. It does not defend the interests of the Kurds. On the contrary, it is trying to divide the Kurdish people. The KDP should change its policy and act for the Kurdish people.”

Emphasizing that the detention of the representative of the Autonomous Administration serves the enemies of the Kurdish people, Leyla Ehmed added that these actions only serve the interests of the Turkish state and favour a fratricide war.