Dismissed Co-Mayor of Kars faces up to 15 years in prison

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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Kars Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued an indictment against dismissed Co-Mayor of Kars Şevin Alaca, who has been arrested since October 8. In the 133-page indictment, the system of co-chairpersonship is described as "against the regulations" and cited as criminal evidence.

The comments of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), regarding this system in 2010, 2013 and 2016 are also cited as evidence within this context.

The indictment also regards it as criminal evidence that the title of Şevin Alaca was written as Kars Co-Mayor on the Twitter account of Kars Municipality, in leaflets, interviews and Alaca's own Twitter account.

Co-mayors' phone calls cited as criminal evidence

Alaca's phone call with her relative regarding a patient visit is also added to the file as evidence against her. Her phone calls with her acquaintances such as "How are you, are you okay, we will come to your visit" is also cited as evidence. Her phone calls with Ayhan Bilgen, the other arrested and dismissed Co-Mayor of Kars, are also considered to constitute a crime.

Some of the other criminal evidence brought against Şevin Alaca is her attendance at the conference of the Free Women's Movement (TJA) and doing a folk dance (halay) in a Kurdish song in February 2020, her attendance at an event on March 8 International Women's Day and the opening of Women's Labor Bazaar in Kars province.

Trustee protests regarded as evidence

A speech about the Paris Commune held by Ayhan Bilgen in Van after trustees were appointed to the Metropolitan Municipalities of Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin is also brought against Alaca as criminal evidence.

The indictment against Alaca also includes the statement of a person who applied to the Presidential Communications Center (CİMER) about Şevin Alaca and Ayhan Bilgen. In the complaint submitted to the CİMER, it was indicated that Alaca and Bilgen would open the American Culture College and this opening was the "Great Armenia Project."

First hearing on January 7

The indictment also brings charges against Şevin Alaca over her attendance at the press statement held by Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Pervin Buldan and MPs in front of the Kars Municipality on September 29, 2020 after Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen had been detained.

While the indictment also refers to the notes with writings on co-chairpersonship and purple daybooks with HDP logo found in her home during house searches as evidence, her meeting with the members of the Democratic Local Governments Council at the HDP provincial office is also considered a crime in the indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office.

Accordingly, Şevin Alaca, arrested pending trial, now faces 5 years to 15 years in prison on charge of "membership in a terrorist organization" as per this indictment. As the indictment has been accepted by the Kars 2nd Heavy Penal Court, Alaca will have her first hearing on January 7.

What happened?

Detained on October 1, 2020, Kars Co-Mayor Şevin Alaca from the HDP was arrested on October 8 on the grounds that Turkey's laws did not have the concept of co-chairpersonship. As the reason for his arrest, the court referred to the system of co-chairpersonship and sister family campaigns. (RT/SD)