Interior Minister: They Try to Make Turkey 'Center of Terrorism' Through Municipalities

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The Ministry of Interior dismissed three mayors in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van yesterday (August 19), appointing the governors as deputy mayors.

Ministry Soylu has commented on the replacements in the "Ankara Migration Evaluation Meeting" he attended in the capital city, saying that "those who claim being elected brings impunity for terrorist crimes are wrong, adding that it is irresponsible to try to link democracy and terrorism through legitimate channels."

"The fundamental role of law and democracy is to not let terrorism exploit the pure votes cast by the people. Those who want to twist both the law and democracy are literally challenging the state, exploiting democracy, and staining the pure votes of the Turkish nation," he added.

The minister said that the state cannot "stay silent against those who attempt to turn the country a center of terrorism through municipalities." (HA/VK)