Dismissed Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı Arrested

* Photo: Social media

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Taken into custody in early morning hours yesterday (October 21), dismissed Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı has been arrested on charges of "membership of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". 

Mızraklı was referred to court earlier today with a request for his arrest after deposing at the prosecutor's office.

Bismil Co-Mayor released

Taken into custody on the same day, Bismil District Co-Mayor Orhan Ayaz stood before the judge on charges of "membership of a terrorist organization", "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "inciting the public to enmity and hatred". Ayaz has been released on probation.

Detained along with Mızraklı in Diyarbakır yesterday, Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) recently dismissed District Co-Mayors of Kayapınar and Kocaköy Keziban Yılmaz and Rojda Nazlıer were still at the prosecutor office as of 5.21 p.m. today (October 22). Yılmaz and Nazlıer have been arrested.

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 reported by Anadolu Agency, the mayors have been removed from office on the ground that there are 9 ongoing investigations against Diyarbakır Metropolitan Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, 6 ongoing investigations against Mardin Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Türk, 7 ongoing investigations against Van Metropolitan Mayor Bedia Özgükçe Ertan at heavy penal courts. (RT/SD)