HDP’s Iğdır Co-Mayor Arrested

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Dismissed by the Ministry of Interior on May 15, Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Iğdır Provincial Co-Mayor Yaşar Akkuş has been arrested on charge of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

The period of detention of Eylem Çelik, the other Iğdır Co-Mayor from the HDP, has been extended for another four days.

The Ministry of Interior removed HDP's Iğdır, Siirt, Kurtalan, Altınova and Baykan Co-Mayors from office and appointed trustees in their place on May 15. Ousted co-mayors were detained shortly afterwards.

While Muş Altınova Town Co-Mayor Casim Budak was arrested on May 16, Iğdır Co-Mayor Yaşar Akkuş was arrested yesterday (May 18).

Referred to the Penal Judgeship of Peace after his deposition at the prosecutor's office, ousted Iğdır Co-Mayor Akkuş was charged with "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

While being detained, Akkuş said, "We did not steal or get anything illegally and did not allow you to do it, either. It has preyed on you. The greatest strength our ours is our people and our smile. We have not bowed down and we will not do so." He also shared the following video on his Twitter account, attaching the vote, "And may my smile prey on you as well..."

Benim de gülüşüm size dert olsun. pic.twitter.com/Uhu3HfFGHj

— Yaşar Akkuş (@yasarrakkus) May 15, 2020

What happened?

On May 15, 2020, the Ministry of Interior dismissed HDP's Siirt Provincial Co-Mayor Berivan Helen Işık, Baykan District Co-Mayor Ramazan Sarsılmaz, Kurtalan District Co-Mayor Baran Akgül, Iğdır Provincial Co-Mayor Yaşar Akkuş and Altınova Town Co-Mayor Casim Budak. Trustees have been appointed in place of dismissed HDP co-mayors. The ousted co-mayors were detained shortly afterwards.

Altınova Co-Mayor Casim Budak was arrested on May 16.

In the last local elections on March 31, 2019, the HDP won 65 municipalities across Turkey, including three metropolitan municipalities, namely Van, Mardin and Diyarbakır. While trustees have been appointed to 45 HDP municipalities so far, six elected co-mayors were not given their certificates of election because they had been discharged from public service by statutory decrees. 21 co-mayors are currently behind bars. (EKN/SD)