* Photo: Anadolu Agency
Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish
Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz, the District Co-Mayor of Kızıltepe in Turkey's southeastern province of Mardin, has been removed from office. District Governor Hüseyin Çam has been appointed as a trustee in her place.
Receiving 70.45 percent of the votes in March 31 local elections, she was elected Kızıltepe Co-Mayor from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
Releasing a statement about the issue, the Governorship of Mardin has indicated that "there is an ongoing prosecution against Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz on charge of "membership of an armed terrorist organization" and two ongoing investigations against her on the same charge."
Accordingly, referring to the Article 127 of the Constitution and to the Article 47 of the Law no. 5393 on Municipalities, the Governorship of Mardin has announced that Elik Yılmaz has been "removed from office by permission of the Ministry as an interim measure."
Elik Yılmaz: I am here with the votes of people
Going in front of the municipality after the decision was made public, elected Co-Mayor Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz has been prevented by the police from entering the building. Elik Yılmaz has responded, "I am here with the votes of the people. I did not come here by force." Police have answered, "If you did not do anything illegal, seek your rights later."
Trustee-appointed municipalities
* 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.
CLICK - Co-Mayors of Hakkari, Nusaybin and Yüksekova Replaced with Trustees
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.
* On October 22, trustees have been appointed in place of Co-Mayor of Erciş in Van Yıldız Çetin and District Co-Mayors of Kayapınar, Bismil and Kocaköy in Diyarbakır Keziban Yılmaz, Orhan Ayaz and Rojda Nazlıer.
* On October 29, a trustee has been appointed to the Municipality of Cizre in Şırnak. While HDP's Mehmet Zırığ has been removed from office with this appointment, the district governor of Cizre Davut Sinanoğlu has been appointed as "Acting Mayor".
* On November 2, Caziye Duman, the District Mayor of Saray in Van, was removed from office while she was still in custody. District Governor Mehmet Halis Aydın has been appointed as a trustee in her place. (TP/SD)
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