Turkey replaces pro-Kurdish mayors with state officials in two eastern cities

These latest moves have drawn backlash from Turkish parties.

By REUTERS NOVEMBER 23, 2024 11:36

Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) supporters take part in a demonstration to protest against the dismissals of three mayors in southeastern provinces, in Mardin, Turkey, November 5, 2024. (photo credit: SERTAC KAYAR / REUTERS)

Turkey stripped two elected pro-Kurdish mayors of their posts in eastern cities on Friday, for convictions on terrorism-related offenses, the interior ministry said, temporarily appointing state officials in their places instead.

The local governor replaced mayor Cevdet Konak in Tunceli, while a local administrator was appointed in the place of Ovacik mayor Mustafa Sarigul, the ministry said in a statement, adding these were "temporary measures."

Konak is a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has 57 seats in the national parliament, and Sarigul is a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Dozens of pro-Kurdish mayors from its predecessor parties have been removed from their posts on similar charges in the past.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said authorities had deemed that Sarigul's attendance at a funeral was a crime and called the move to appoint a trustee "a theft of the national will," adding his party would stand against the "injustice."

"Removing a mayor who has been elected by the votes of the people for two terms over a funeral he attended 12 years ago has no more jurisdiction than the last struggles of a government on its way out," Ozel said on X.

Turkish Kurds watch smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. A U.S.-led military coalition has been bombing Islamic State fighters who (credit: KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS)

Backlash over replacements

Earlier this month, Turkey replaced three pro-Kurdish mayors in southeastern cities over similar terrorism-related reasons, drawing backlash from the DEM Party and others.

Last month, a mayor from the CHP was arrested after prosecutors accused him of belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), banned as a terrorist group in Turkey and deemed a terrorist group by the European Union and United States.

The appointment of government trustees followed a surprise proposal by President Tayyip Erdogan's main ally last month to end the state's 40-year conflict with the PKK.