23 Co-Mayors Discharged, 16 Others Imprisoned

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Prosecution has been launched against 36 Democratic Regions' Party (DBP) co-mayors from 24 districts in 11 cities as of August in Turkey.

While on the one hand law amendment has become a matter of debate as to metropoles and municipalities, on the other hand 17 co-mayors are imprisoned or not imprisoned over aggravated life imprisonment demand.

16 co-mayors enter the new year in prison. Furthermore, a prosecution has been launched against 33 alder-people; 16 alder-people and two general assembly co-chairs have been arrested.

23 mayors have been discharged

According to DBP's list, out of 36 co-mayors from provinces of Diyarbakır, Batman, Erzurum, Hakkari, Iğdır, Mardin, Mersin, Siirt, Şırnak, Urfa, Van:

- 16 co-mayors are currently imprisoned.
- Three co-mayors have been supervised released after detained.
- One co-mayor is being kept in house arrest with electronic bracelet.
- 23 co-mayors have been discharged from 17 municipalities, which are namely Batman, Batman İkiköprü, Batman Beşiri, Batman Balpınar, Iğdır Tuzluca, Iğdır Hoşhaber, Van Özalp, Hakkari Yüksekova, Van Edremit, Mardin Nusaybin, Mardin Savur, Diyarbakır Silvan, Diyarbakır Sur, Hakkari, Van İpekyolu, Siirt Eruh, Şırnak Cizre.
- There is search warrant for six co-mayors.

Accusations about co-mayors

Here are what the co-mayors are being accused with:

- 17 co-mayors are being accused of disrupting unity and integrity of the state.
- Eight co-mayors have been detained for participating human shield protest and entering special zone of security.
- Four co-mayors have been arrested. (Iğdır Co-Mayor Şaziye Önder, Iğdır Tuzluca Co-Mayor Mehmet Gültekin, Iğdır Hoşhaber Co-Mayor Ali Çam, Van Özalp Co-Mayor Handan Bağcı).
- Batman İkiköprü Co-Mayors Hidayet Tiryaki and Osman Karabulut, Batman Beşiri Co-Mayor Mustafa Öztürk and Batman Co-Mayor Gülistan Akel are pending a trial.
- Iğdır Digor Co-Mayors Şengül Erkmen and Ejrem Bingül were arrested over malversation and forgery of official documents on November 19.

Five co-mayors are being tried over "being member to organization". Diyarbakır Lice Co-Mayor Harun Erkuş has been arrested over organization membership. Mardin Nusaybin Co-Mayor Sara Kaya is pending a trial.

While Mardin Mazıdağ Co-Mayor Ali Özkan who was taken into custody for "organization membership" and "getting into the act on behalf of the organization" has been arrested, Urfa Suruç Co-Mayor has been supervised released.

Mersin Akdeniz Co-Mayor Fazıl Türk is pending a trial over "organization membership" and "providing financial source to the organization" accusations.

Two co-mayors are being tried for propagandizing for the organization.

Cizre Co-Mayor Leyla İmret being tried for disrupting unity and integrity of the state has been supervised released and now being tried for propagandizing for terrorist organization.

Siirt Eruh Co-Mayor Hüseyin Kılıç is being kept in house arrest with electronic bracelet.

One co-mayor has been arrested over getting into act on behalf of the organization.

Erzurum Hınıs Co-Mayor Hasan Basri Fırat being detained in house raid on October 13 was arrested on October 14. (ÇT/TK)