Dismissed Co-Mayor of Suruç released from prison

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Replaced with a trustee by the Ministry of Interior and arrested shortly afterwards on November 19, 2019, dismissed Co-Mayor of Suruç district of Urfa Hatice Çevik was released from prison today (June 23).

Charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization," Çevik had her second hearing at the Urfa 2nd Heavy Penal Court. Arrested in Tarsus Women Closed Prison in Mersin province, she attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). Her attorneys Ahmet Ceylan, İsmail Bülbül and Müslüm Baran were present at court.

Çevik rejected the charges brought against her, noting that some allegations were made so that a trustee could be appointed in her place.

"The file has no concrete criminal evidence against me," she said and demanded her release. The court has ruled that she shall be released.

What happened?

Detained on November 15, 2019 after being removed from office, Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Suruç District Co-Mayor Hatice Çevik was arrested on November 20. As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), she was charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".

Çevik was arrested by the penal court of peace at the Urfa Courthouse and reportedly sent to the Urfa Type T Prison.

In a statement released by the Urfa Governorship, it was announced that Suruç District Governor Kenan Aktaş was appointed as a trustee in place of Co-Mayor Hatice Çevik, who was detained as part of an investigation conducted by the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. (EMK/SD)