17/09/2001
Sinn Féin member detained in Turkey
Turkish police have released Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey and four other people who were briefly detained on their arrival in the country yesterday.
Mr Maskey said the group was on a fact-finding visit to meet the families and supporters of Turkish hunger strikers, 33 of whom have died to date.
The five from the North arrived on a flight from Brussels on Sunday September 16. Mr Maskey said they were nearing the homes of the families when detained.
Mr Maskey, due to return to Belfast on Wednesday, declined to name his travelling companions but said he was the only Sinn Féin member in the group.
Earlier this year, republicans in Belfast formed the Turkish Hunger Strikers' Action Committee to highlight the hunger strikes of left-wing inmates protesting at the building of smaller prison cells.
In July, members of the Turkish Hunger Strikers' Action Committee picketed outside the European Commission offices in Belfast in memory of 29 Turkish hunger strikers that had died. Around 800 prisoners from extreme left wing groups are on hunger strike to protest against their transfer in December 2000 from large dormitory wards into small cells where they say they are mistreated. (AMcE)
Mr Maskey said the group was on a fact-finding visit to meet the families and supporters of Turkish hunger strikers, 33 of whom have died to date.
The five from the North arrived on a flight from Brussels on Sunday September 16. Mr Maskey said they were nearing the homes of the families when detained.
Mr Maskey, due to return to Belfast on Wednesday, declined to name his travelling companions but said he was the only Sinn Féin member in the group.
Earlier this year, republicans in Belfast formed the Turkish Hunger Strikers' Action Committee to highlight the hunger strikes of left-wing inmates protesting at the building of smaller prison cells.
In July, members of the Turkish Hunger Strikers' Action Committee picketed outside the European Commission offices in Belfast in memory of 29 Turkish hunger strikers that had died. Around 800 prisoners from extreme left wing groups are on hunger strike to protest against their transfer in December 2000 from large dormitory wards into small cells where they say they are mistreated. (AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.