The Turkish nationals, whom authorities said were local tradesmen from the southeastern district of Yüksekova, were detained after crossing the Turkish-Iranian border in Yüksekova, Hakkari province, on Dec. 31, Anatolia said. Their cars and passports were seized by Iranian security forces.
Hakkari Governor Muammer Türker ordered Yüksekova District Governor Çetin Çelik to speak with Iranian officials to secure the Turkish citizens’ release. On Saturday Çelik contacted Iranian authorities, who told him that the Turkish nationals had been detained for smuggling fuel. But Türker expressed doubt that this was the true reason for detention.
“We believe that the problem really stems from the incident last week in Yüksekova where an Iranian passenger bus was stoned,” he told Anatolia late on Saturday.
An Iranian passenger bus was attacked by stone-throwing demonstrators in Yüksekova last week during a protest by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Two Iranians were slightly injured during the attack, and several windows of the bus were smashed.
“Çelik requested that the citizens be released from custody. Iranian officials informed him that the Turkish citizens had been detained for smuggling fuel,” he said. “Our efforts are continuing to ensure the release of our citizens.”
