Three Syrian citizens have been jailed in the province of Adana in the south of Turkey. The men, aged between 22 and 34, are originally from Rojava and are accused of "membership in a terrorist organisation" - meaning the People's Defense Units (YPG). A 45-year-old man detained on the same charge was released on registration charges. He has to report regularly to the police and is not allowed to leave the city without permission.

H.E.F. (22), S.A. (26), H.A. (34) and I.H. (45) were taken into custody last Wednesday. So-called anti-terror units stormed the flats of the four Kurds and brought them to Adana police headquarters. After several days of questioning at the police station, they were handed over to the public prosecutor's office on Sunday evening. The prosecution accuses the men of having "received an order from the terrorist organisation PYD/YPG" to "go to Turkey as a member of a sleeper cell and to participate in attacks there according to more detailed instructions from the organisation".

The criminal division of the Adana district court complied with the request for an arrest warrant in three cases. The decision was based on "incriminating statements" against the persons concerned. In addition, two of them were allegedly recognised in "clear photos" which showed them wearing camouflage and carrying weapons. The defendants denied all accusations and stated in their defence that they had fled to Turkey in 2015 and 2016 respectively from the occupation of northern Syria by the terrorist militia ISIS and had since been working as day labourers in construction or in the countryside. It is still uncertain when the case will be brought to trial.

In Turkey, accusations of terrorism in such cases are often based on tips from informers. It is well known that no evidence is needed in Turkey when it comes to accusations related to Kurdish structures that are criminalised as "terrorist organisations". Hundreds of Kurds from Rojava are in custody in Turkish prisons. Most have been illegally deported and given life sentences in Turkey for alleged crimes committed in Syria.