Trustees Appointed to 4 HDP Municipalities

* Photo: AA

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Trustees have been appointed in place of Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) District Co-Mayor of Erciş in Van Yıldız Çetin, who was previously detained as part of a "terror investigation" and taken into custody, and District Co-Mayors of Kayapınar, Bismil and Kocaköy in Diyarbakır Kezban Yılmaz, Orhan Ayaz and Rojda Nazlier.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Governorship of Van has released a statement and announced that Çetin is on trial for "membership of a terrorist organization" and "terror propaganda" at the Van 4th and 5th Heavy Penal Court and there is an ongoing investigation against her on charge of "membership of an armed terrorist organization" conducted by the Erciş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Governorship has also announced that Nuri Mehmetbeyoğlu, the district governor of Erciş, has been "appointed as acting mayor".

3 HDP Diyarbakır Co-Mayors detained

Appointed a trustee in his place, dismissed Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı and HDP's Kayapınar District Co-Mayor Kezban Yılmaz, Bismil Co-Mayor Orhan Ayaz and Kocaköy Co-Mayor Rojda Nazlier were taken into custody in a raid conducted to their houses in early morning hours yesterday (October 21).

As reported by the AA, Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant against Mızraklı, Yılmaz, Ayaz and Nazlier as part of an investigation launched against them on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "being members of a terrorist organization".

What happened?

* The Ministry of Interior announced that they dismissed Metropolitan Mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı, Metropolitan Mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk and Metropolitan Mayor of Van Bedia Özgökçe Ertan on August 19.

Diyarbakır Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, Mardin Governor Mustafa Yaman and Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez have been appointed as Acting Metropolitan Mayors, or rather, as trustees.

* As part of an investigation launched into the explosion that claimed the lives of seven people in Kulp, Diyarbakır on September 17, HDP's Kulp Co-Mayors Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay were arrested with three others.

Kulp District Governor Mustafa Gözlet has been appointed as a trustee in place of Kulp Co-Mayor Mehmet Fatih Taş. In a statement released by the Governorship of Diyarbakır, it was indicated that there are five ongoing investigations and one prosecution against Taş.

* Shortly after the prison sentence of 7 years, 6 months given to Karayazı Co-Mayor Melike Göksu for "membership of an organization" was upheld by the Court of Cassation, she was arrested on September 18. District Governor Mesut Tabakçıoğlu has been appointed as a trustee in her place.

* On October 18, trustees were appointed to the Hakkari Municipality, Yüksekova District Municipality and Nusaybin District Municipality in Mardin. Hakkari Co-Mayor Cihan Karaman, Yüksekova Co-Mayor Remziye Yaşar and Nusaybin Co-Mayor Semire Nergiz were arrested.

While Hakkari Governor İdris Akbıyık has been appointed as trustee to Hakkari Provincial Municipality, Nusaybin District Governor Mehmet Balıkçılar and Yüksekova District Governor Osman Doğramacı have been appointed as trustees to Nusaybin and Yüksekova Municipalities. (TP/SD)