ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey removed another elected pro-Kurdish provincial mayor on Wednesday over convictions on terrorism-related offences, the interior ministry said, temporarily appointing a state official in her place amid a widening opposition crackdown.
In a statement, the ministry said the local governor replaced Sofya Alagas, a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party and mayor of the southeastern province of Siirt because of a prior conviction for “membership in the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organisation”, and added these were “temporary measures”.
Dozens of pro-Kurdish mayors from DEM and its predecessor parties have been removed from their posts on similar charges in the past, while many of the party’s mayors and local administrators have also been detained.
DEM, which has 57 seats in the 600-seat parliament, said the Siirt municipality was “usurped” from the party with the trustee appointment. It said a total of eight municipalities won by DEM in local elections last year – mostly in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast – had been taken over by government trustees.
The government says the measures are necessary for national security as no person linked with terrorism should legally hold a state administration position.
Wednesday’s move comes amid a judicial crackdown against the opposition by the government, which has ramped up investigations and detentions against figures from the main opposition, raising concerns over the muzzling of dissent in Turkey.
It also comes as a political effort is underway to end the 40-year conflict between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia and the state, which have fostered hopes for peace.
The PKK is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.
(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Comments