Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs removes Co-mayors of Akdeniz from office
The Turkish Ministry of Interior has announced that the co-mayors of Akdeniz, a district of Mersin, elected from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM party), have been removed from office.
News Center- On January 10 ,2025, Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan, Co-mayors of the Akdeniz Municipality from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), four council members, Özgür Çağlar, Hikmet Bakırhan, Neslihan Oruç and Yakup Danış, were detained in dawn house raids.
On January 13, Hoşyar Sarıyıldız, Nuriye Aslan and Özgür Çağlar were referred to courthouse to be arrested on charges of “membership in an illegal organization”, “financing an illegal organization” and “opposing the Law on Demonstrations and Marches No. 2911”.
The Criminal Court of Peace on Duty ruled the pre-trial detention of Hoşyar Sarıyıldız, Nuriye Aslan, Özgür Çağlar, Hikmet Bakırhan and Neslihan Oruç and the release of Yakup Danış under judicial control.
Following the court decision, the Turkish Ministry of Interior published a statement, announcing the replacement of the elected co-mayors of Akdeniz with a state-appointed trustee. According to the statement, Zeyit Şener, the governor of Akdeniz, has been appointed to the municipality as a trustee and three council members have been suspended from their duties.