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Local News Summary of May, 14th

  • Basel Kurds arrested in Turkey: local authorities’ hands are tied
  • Violent confrontation at Claragraben/Clarastrasse results in victim with head injuries
  • Marco Natoli is new president of young Basel Christian Democrats

Basel Kurds arrested in Turkey: local authorities’ hands are tied

Three Kurds who live in Basel and who were politically active in Switzerland have been arrested in Turkey. It remains unclear what the Turkish authorities have accused them of. According to Basel Social Democrat, Mustafa Atici, only one of the three men ever took part in demonstrations.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) confirmed on Saturday that a man with Turkish-Swiss nationality was under arrest in Turkey. Mr Atici, a Basel Grand Council member, said that the man was arrested when he arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport at the end of April. In doing so, Mr Atici and the EDA confirmed stories which were published in the “Basler Zeitung” and the “Schweiz am Wochenende” newspapers.

Limited consular protection

The EDA is trying to free the arrested man. However, the Turkish authorities do not take into account the involvement of Switzerland in their dealing with the Kurdish man.

“The process is made more complicated by the fact that the Turkish authorities regard all people who hold both Swiss and Turkish nationalities merely as Turkish citizens and therefore do not always allow the EDA to grant consular protection,” the department wrote in a statement.

Violent confrontation at Claragraben/Clarastrasse results in victim with head injuries

A 24-year-old man was injured in a violent confrontation at the junction between Claragraben and Clarastrasse in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Current investigations by the criminal police of the public prosecution reveal that there had been an argument between the man and an unidentified person at Fame Club earlier in the evening.

Later, outside the club, the man hit the 24-year-old on the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The injured victim, who suffered head injuries, was rushed to the emergency unit at the University Hospital for treatment. The perpetrator then fled towards Kaserne.

Marco Natoli is new president of young Basel Christian Democrats

Marco Natoli has been named the new president of the young Christian Democratic People’s Party (CVP) of Basel-Stadt. The former board member was elected as Patrick Huber’s successor on Friday evening.

Mr Natoli is 24 years old and studies economics history and economics, his party announced in a statement. He also works in marketing.