ERBIL — Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry refuted on Monday the reports which claimed that Erbil had helped handing over of the niece of influential Syrian Kurdish politician Salih Muslim to Turkey, calling the reports “baseless and an attempt to cover up the reality”.

In the recent days, multiple media reports claimed that Dalia Mahmoud Muslim, a former fighter of the Syrian Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and niece of Salih Muslim, the former chairman of ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), had been kidnapped by Turkish intelligence with the help of the Kurdish authorities in Kurdistan Region.

However, in an official statement on July 20, KRG’s interior ministry denied the allegations and revealed that Dalia had willingly handed in herself to Turkey after defecting the YPJ and establishing a romantic relationship with another fighter.

“After abandoning the YPJ, Dalia Mahmoud Muslim (Also known as Vian Sharvan), who had established a romantic relationship with a YPG fighter (Salam Ramazan Mohammad, also known as Tolhaldan, from Turkey’s Bitlis) decided to escape,” reads the ministry statement.

“On 9 July 2020, Salam Ramazan voluntarily returned to Turkey. Later on 14 July 2020, Dalia Mahmoud Salih illegally crosses the border to join Salam Ramazan in Turkey. She later hands herself in to the Turkish police in Dersim,” the statement added.

Kurdistan Region’s interior minister criticized media outlets affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for making false allegations and baseless accusations, saying that “should have first asked themselves why people are abandoning them and risking their lives to take unofficial ways to escape”.

“Relevant authorities in Kurdistan Region, however, are ready for any investigations. Kurdistan Region, as always, remains a safe haven for the desperate people, and the misleading report cannot affect its principles,” the statement concluded.