The Scottish MP Natalie McGarry has been released by Turkish security forces after being detained for questioning following concerns about her using recording equipment.

She tweeted that she was “safe and absolutely fine” after reports in the Turkish media saying she had been taken into custody by police in Diyarbakir, south-east Turkey, despite showing her passport. She was believed to have been visiting the country on a trip organised by the GMB union.

Message from Natalie McGarry



McGarry’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, released a statement confirming that the MP was questioned on Thursday, when she was recording, in the Kurdish area of Sur in Diyarbakir, the sound of bombs falling.

He said: “It appears that a member of the Turkish security forces became alarmed as Natalie had her mobile phone out near a security checkpoint. She was taken away for questioning and when it was explained that she was part of the GMB delegation and simply recording the sound of bombs falling, she was released.”

The statement added that McGarry was grateful for the messages of support she received, and said she would be returning to the UK soon.

McGarry, a former Scottish National party MP for Glasgow East, withdrew from the party’s whip last November after she was linked to an allegation claiming tens of thousands of pounds in donations could be missing from the campaign group she helped set up, Women for Independence. She now sits as an independent MP. She denies any wrongdoing.

A Foreign Office spokesperson also confirmed that a British national had been briefly detained and released in Diyarbakir, and that their embassy staff were in close contact with local authorities.