Turkish government dismiss and arrest more HDP mayors

Today is Kurdish Language Day and the AKP government “celebrates” it by dismissing 5 democratically and freely elected HDP mayors in as many municipalities.

After the seizure of the HDP-run municipalities of Iğdır, Siirt, Kurtalan and Baykan this morning it has been confirmed that the municipality of Altınova, in Korkut district of Muş, has also been usurped by the government.

Altınova Municipality co-mayor Casim Budak has been dismissed and replaced by a state-appointed trustee.

Earlier this morning it was disclosed that Governor Enver Ünlü was appointed to Iğdır municipality, Governor Ali Fuat Atik to Siirt, Governor Mehmet Tunç to Baykan, Governor Hasan İhsan Emre Aydın to Kurtalan, Hasan Sadebıyık to Altınova.

Turkish Interior Ministry has dismissed Siirt Municipality co-mayor Berivan Helen Işık, Baykan Municipality co-mayor Ramazan Sarsılmaz, Kurtalan Municipality co-mayor Baran Akgül and Iğdır co-mayor Yaşar Akkuş.

The dismissed co-mayor of Siirt Berivan Helen Işık, Iğdır Municipality co-mayors Yaşar Akkuş and Eylem Çelik, Baykan co-mayor Ramazan Sarsılmaz and Kurtalan co-mayor Baran Akgül were taken into custody.

HDP won 65 municipalities, 3 of which metropolitan cities in the local elections of 31 March 2019. 45 municipalities have been seized and taken over by state-appointed trustees so far.

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