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Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said, "President Erdoğan's government has effectively cancelled the results of the March local elections in the three main cities of the Kurdish southeast and east by removing voters' chosen mayors, all valid candidates, and taking over these municipalities.
"Smearing the mayors by alleging vague links with terrorism to deprive the Kurdish population of their chosen representatives endangers everyone in Turkey who is committed to democratic elections, human rights, and the rule of law."
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Saying that the government of Turkey uses terrorism offenses to silence its critics, HRW noted none of the mayors received a final conviction in the investigations against them:
"The Interior Ministry justified substituting government-appointed provincial governors in each municipality because the mayors face investigations and legal proceedings under terrorism laws for their speeches and non-violent political activities. None have received a final conviction.
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"Abusive prosecutions and investigations for overly broad and vague terrorism offenses are widely used in Turkey to silence and arbitrarily detain government critics, journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians.
"The three mayors won their seats in the March 31 local election, with Mızraklı winning 63 percent of the vote, Türk 56 percent, and Özgökçe Ertan 53 percent. It is the second time that elected mayors in the southeastern part of the country have been removed from office and replaced with Ankara appointees.
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"These moves by Erdoğan's government against democratically elected officials violate Turkey's obligations under international and regional human rights law.
"The moves violate the right to political participation, the right to free elections, and the right to freedom of expression under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights." (EMK/VK)
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