Doğubayazıt Co-Mayors Arrested

Click to read the article in Turkish

Seven people including Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt Co-Mayors Murat Rohat Özbay and Delal Tekdemir have been arrested.

The seven people were detained during raids launched in İstanbul and Turkey’s southeastern Urfa province on January 23. The day after the raids, the district’s Sub-Governor Ulaş Akhan was appointed as trustee to the district.

The prosecutor demanded arrest of them on charges of “propagandizing for terror” and “aiding and abating an [illegal] organization”.

Being referred to court for arrest, the co-mayors Murat Ruhat Özbay and Delal Tekdemir, deputy co-mayor Bülent Erişik, municipality assembly members Mustafa Ergül, Z. Abidin Kızılay, Halime Keskin and Bora Çoktin were arrested.

The number of arrested co-mayors from the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) has climbed to 80. (BK/TK)