Physicians: ‘Arrest of Selçuk Mızraklı Disrespect for Right to Elect and to be Elected’

Click to read the article in Turkish

After dismissed Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Dr. Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı was arrested for allegedly "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" yesterday (October 22), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and İstanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) have released statements denouncing his arrest.

CLICK - Selçuk Mızraklı Arrested

İTO: We see it, we are a witness to it

In its statement, İstanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) has requested the release of Mızraklı, who is also the former Chair of Diyarbakır Medical Chamber.

"We know it and we know him. Selçuk Mızraklı has been a physician for thirty years, a general surgeon for 23 years and former Chair of Diyarbakır Medical Chamber. He is the elected Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality", the İTO has indicated and added:

"Selçuk Mızraklı represents peace, democracy and fraternity. We see it, we are a witness to it. The arrest of Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı is disrespect for the right to elect and to be elected. The arrest of Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı is a disregard for not only the will of the people of Diyarbakır, but for the will of us all.

"His arrest is a unlawfulness that aims to spread fear among the whole society and to intimidate, silence and coerce the entire opposition."

TTB: A dark page

Sharing a brief message about the incident on Twitter, the Turkish Medical Chamber (TTB) has also stated,

"Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı is one of the most important representatives of struggle for the right to health and life and practice of good medicine. Arresting the elected is a dark page for the democracy of our country. Just as we protect right to health, we will also protect democracy and justice."

Diyarbakır Bar Association: End State of Emergency

Diyarbakır Bar Association, Diyarbakır Medical Chamber, HAK Initiative Diyarbakır Office, Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Diyarbakır Branch also released a joint statement about the issue yesterday.

In their joint statement, the organizations called on the government to "end the practices of State of Emergency, which has become permanent, to rescind the illegitimate appointment of trustees, to respect the elected will and to release and reinstate all of the elected immediately." (HA/SD)