AN AUSTRALIAN woman has been arrested in Turkey over alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), local media has said. 

Cigdem Aslan was detained at Istanbul airport following a joint operation by anti-terrorist police and intelligence officers.

According to a report by the Anadolu news agency, the investigation found she was "actively involved in the Australian structure of the terrorist organisation.”

Anadolu did not specify the nature of her alleged involvement with the PKK. 

Ms Aslan has been sent to prison, awaiting trial.

The PKK has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. 

The conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and the group is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, the European Union and Australia.

The Anadolu report said she was arrested as she waited to board a plane for Australia and had been followed by Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation. 

Anadolu said that Ms Aslan had been in contact with “high-level” PKK members and their report included photographs purportedly showing her posing in front of a PKK flag.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was “providing consular assistance to an Australian woman detained in Turkey.”