Diyarbakır Co-Mayor Fırat Anlı Released

Click to read the article in Turkish/Kurdish

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Co-Mayor Fırat Anlı has been released.

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Co-Mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı were detained on October 25, 2016 and arrested on October 30, 2016. A trustee was appointed to Diyarbakır Municipality on November 1, 2016.

The number of imprisoned DBP co-mayors has dropped to 71 following release of Anlı.

Anlı has been charged with “disrupting unity and integrity of the state”, “killing one for fulfilling his/her duty”, “propagandizing for a terror organization”, “attempting to murder one for fulfilling his/her duty”, “possessing dangerous materials without permission”. The prosecutor demands from 31.5 to 89 years in prison.

What happened?

Arriving at Diyarbakır Airport after holding a speech before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey – Coup Investigation Committee, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality co-Mayor Gültan Kışanak was taken into custody yesterday (October 25).

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality co-Mayor Fırat Anlı was also taken into custody in the same hours in his house.

People's Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) had called for people to take it to the streets in İstanbul and Diyarbakır at 11 a.m. to protest the detention of the co-Mayors.

Issuing a written statement following the solidarity call of the parties, Diyarbakır Governorship had announced that the intended demonstrations were unlawful.

A group protesting against detention of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality co-Mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı, were also taken into custody on Former deputy and now KJA Spokesperson Ayla Akat-Ata as well as Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Zülküf Karatekin are also among the detainees. (BK/TK)