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Joe Robinson: Terror charge ex-soldier 'faces court wait' | Joe Robinson: Terror charge ex-soldier 'faces court wait' |
(17 days later) | |
An ex-British soldier held in Turkey on a terror charge while on holiday may be imprisoned for three months before the case reaches court, his lawyer said. | An ex-British soldier held in Turkey on a terror charge while on holiday may be imprisoned for three months before the case reaches court, his lawyer said. |
Joe Robinson, 24, who lives in Leeds, was with his fiancée Mira Rojkan and her mother when they were arrested in the coastal town of Didim. | Joe Robinson, 24, who lives in Leeds, was with his fiancée Mira Rojkan and her mother when they were arrested in the coastal town of Didim. |
He is thought to be under suspicion of sharing material on social media from his time in Syria with Kurdish militia. | He is thought to be under suspicion of sharing material on social media from his time in Syria with Kurdish militia. |
Lawyer Kaya Sertkaya said: "We do not know when he will be taken to court." | |
Mr Robinson previously served in Afghanistan with the British Army, but in 2015 he travelled to Syria and spent time with Kurdish rebels the YPG who are fighting against so-called Islamic State (IS). | Mr Robinson previously served in Afghanistan with the British Army, but in 2015 he travelled to Syria and spent time with Kurdish rebels the YPG who are fighting against so-called Islamic State (IS). |
He spoke openly about his experiences in newspaper reports at the time. | He spoke openly about his experiences in newspaper reports at the time. |
'Most ridiculous thing' | 'Most ridiculous thing' |
The YPG is considered by Turkey to be an offshoot of the Kurdish militant group PKK that has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. | The YPG is considered by Turkey to be an offshoot of the Kurdish militant group PKK that has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. |
But the YPG is not a proscribed group in the UK, and is considered a close ally of the US in the fight against IS. | But the YPG is not a proscribed group in the UK, and is considered a close ally of the US in the fight against IS. |
Speaking to the BBC, his father Andrew Robinson appealed for diplomatic help. | Speaking to the BBC, his father Andrew Robinson appealed for diplomatic help. |
He said: "When I heard that he'd been arrested on terrorist charges, I was devastated. I didn't realise what the situation was like in Turkey. | He said: "When I heard that he'd been arrested on terrorist charges, I was devastated. I didn't realise what the situation was like in Turkey. |
"We're just hoping that somebody is going to come through and help us - the government, the Foreign Office. We're just hoping that somebody can get more information." | "We're just hoping that somebody is going to come through and help us - the government, the Foreign Office. We're just hoping that somebody can get more information." |
Sharon Robinson, his mother, described his arrest as "the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life". | Sharon Robinson, his mother, described his arrest as "the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life". |
His lawyer said Mr Robinson was currently in jail in the west Turkey town of Aydin and his client was accused of "being a member of a terrorist organisation". | His lawyer said Mr Robinson was currently in jail in the west Turkey town of Aydin and his client was accused of "being a member of a terrorist organisation". |
"I was able to see him yesterday, he looked fine and in good spirits but we do not know when he will be taken to court," Mr Sertkaya said. | |
"Because of the state of emergency, when arrests on terror charges are made it takes a long time for the prosecutors to write the indictment." | "Because of the state of emergency, when arrests on terror charges are made it takes a long time for the prosecutors to write the indictment." |
He added: "Probably he will not be taken to court before three months or so." | He added: "Probably he will not be taken to court before three months or so." |
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement that it was providing support to the family and remains in contact with the Turkish authorities. | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement that it was providing support to the family and remains in contact with the Turkish authorities. |
Turkish affairs analyst Guney Yildiz, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, said it was "not a surprise" that Mr Robinson may face legal action in Turkey for being seen to have had ties in the past with a group that Turkey regards as a security threat. | Turkish affairs analyst Guney Yildiz, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, said it was "not a surprise" that Mr Robinson may face legal action in Turkey for being seen to have had ties in the past with a group that Turkey regards as a security threat. |
"Turkey is more afraid of the propaganda aspect of a British national fighting with the Kurds against ISIS," he explained, "rather than that person being a real threat to public security in Turkey." | "Turkey is more afraid of the propaganda aspect of a British national fighting with the Kurds against ISIS," he explained, "rather than that person being a real threat to public security in Turkey." |
Ms Rojkan, originally from Bulgaria and a student at the University of Leeds, was held in detention for six days before she was released under judicial control. Her mother was also released. | Ms Rojkan, originally from Bulgaria and a student at the University of Leeds, was held in detention for six days before she was released under judicial control. Her mother was also released. |
"We are both innocent and we want justice," she said. | "We are both innocent and we want justice," she said. |
Correction 17 August 2017: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong name for Joe Robinson's lawyer, Kaya Sertkaya. |