Turkey on Tuesday lashed out at the Czech judicial authorities for releasing Salih Muslum, the former co-leader of PYD, which is Syrian off-shoot of the PKK terror group that has waged a terror campaign for three decades, after his arrest at the weekend, saying the move showed "support for terrorism".
"This verdict is very clearly a decision in support for terrorism," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ told reporters in Ankara, adding it would have a "negative impact" on relations between Prague and Ankara.
"The decision will affect [Turkey's] relations with the Czech Republic," Bozdağ told journalists.
"This rule is a political decision which cannot be explained in terms of law ... This decision is supporting terrorist acts against Turkey," Bozdağ said.
Muslum was detained Sunday in Prague after Turkey called on the Czech Republic for the arrest of the former terrorist co-leader.
Bozdağ also said that the court ruling came as no surprise for Turkey.
"Because, the EU member countries' stance on Turkey and on the people who have carried out terrorist acts against Turkey are obvious," he said.
Speaking to journalists in the parliament, Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül called on the Czech Republic to correct its mistake of releasing Muslum.
"The decision of Czech jurisdiction came out as against [international] conventions and laws," Gül said.
"We will wait for our counterparts to correct this mistake as soon as possible."
The justice minister highlighted that Turkey would continue its legal struggle against all terrorists who threaten Turkey.
"Turkish justice will be hot on their trail," he said.
The Turkish Interior Ministry had offered a bounty of nearly $1 million on Muslum who is listed as a most wanted terrorist.
Muslum is being sought on charges of disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state, homicide, attempted homicide, damaging public property, and transporting hazardous substances.
The PYD/PKK is a Syrian offshoot of the PKK which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.
