Former MP discloses that Iran harbored Öcalan in ‘90s
Sundays Zaman / ERCAN YAVUZ, ANKARA
26-Aug-2011

Turkish intelligence services have determined that Iran provided shelter at one time to jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, while aiding and abetting Kurdish militants who crossed over the Iranian border for supplies and medical care.  

 According to former Democratic Left Party (DSP) İzmir deputy Recai Birgün, the former chief bodyguard of the late Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, not only Syria but also Iran harbored Öcalan in the past and provided material support to him and his terror network.

Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, Birgün stated that in 1994, Turkish intelligence services determined that Öcalan was hiding in Iran. He even disclosed details of how Turkey conducted a failed special operation to extract Öcalan from his hideout in Iran. “When Öcalan was spotted in Iran, Turkey gave the go-ahead for preparations to conduct a secret operation to pick him up” he stated. Birgün went on to say: “I know this from first hand knowledge because I was working in the security detachment in the Turkish Consulate General in Urmia, Iran, at the time.

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