Ex-British soldier who went to Syria to fight against ISIS charged with terror offences in Turkey

An ex-British soldier who went to Syria to fight
against ISIS has been charged with terror offences in
Turkey, it was reported.
Joe Robinson was detained along with his girlfriend
and her mother while the trio were on holiday in the
resort of Didim, on the Aegean coast, last month.
He has now been charged with membership of a
terrorist organisation, his solicitor said.
Mr Robinson fought alongside the People's Protection
Units of Syrian Kurdistan (YPG) against the Islamic
State.
But Turkey is hostile to the YPG because of links with
the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is fighting for
Kurdish autonomy in Turkey.
Solicitor Kaya Sertkaya told the Guardian Mr Robinson
was being kept in his cell for 23 hours a day.
It is believed he stands accused of sharing
photographs of himself wearing a YPG uniform and
other material relating to the Kurdish militia - which
were seen by Turkish authories on Facebook.
His girlfriend Mira Rojkan, who according to her
Facebook page is originally from Bulgaria, but is living
in Leeds and studying law, has been charged with
propaganda for sharing pro-Kurdish material online,
the solicitor added.
Speaking following their arrest last month, Ms Rojkan
told The Guardian : “It was just awful.
"They said someone had sent them an email saying
we were terrorists about to do something in Turkey.
"They wouldn’t say who it was from. It is absolute
nonsense. They arrested us on the beach while we
were vacationing with my mother.”
It is also reported that Mr Robinson's family has sent
a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May appealing for
her help.
An online petition calling for his release has gained
more than 3,000 signatures since being set up at the
end of July.
Mr Robinson, who toured Afghanistan with the Duke
of Lancaster’s Regiment in 2012, fought alongside the
People's Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan (YPG)
against terror group IS after travelling to Syria two
years.
During his time he served as a combat medic
alongside the People’s Protection Units of Syrian
Kurdistan (YPG) against Isis militants.
Following Mr Robinson's arrest, the Kurdistan
Solidarity Campaign said: "Unfortunately, Joe has
gone on holiday to Turkey not realising the kind of
state it has now become.
"Turkey unfortunately continues to criminalise the
Kurdish question and has jailed tens of thousands of
Kurdish people, including elected MPs and mayors
simply for peacefully campaigning for Kurdish rights."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of
the detention of a British national in Turkey and have
requested consular access. We are providing support
to the family and remain in contact with Turkish
authorities."

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