Trustees appointed to two southeastern municipalities

The authority to appoint trustees to municipalities was introduced with a state of emergency decree. 
The trustees were appointed to municipalities from district governors, with Murat Kütük appointed to Silvan and Dr. Memduh Tura appointed to Sur. 

New appointments will be made for nine members of the provincial assembly, Anadolu Agency reported. 

Complaints were filed against Sur Mayor Seyid Narin and Silvan Mayor Yüksel Bodakçı over “declaring self-rule” in the districts and their trials were continuing in Diyarbakır Fifth Heavy Penal Court.

Narin is facing aggravated life imprisonment over “harming the unity of the state and integrity of the country.”

Aggravated life imprisonment is also sought for Bodakçı, as well as up to five years in prison for “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.”

Meanwhile, the official website of the Sur Municipality couldn’t be reached when the decision to appoint trustees was announced. 

The controversial issue regarding the appointment of trustees to municipalities was passed amid the state of emergency decrees. The appointment of trustees to municipalities was made possible if mayors, deputy mayors or members of the municipal council were suspended on terror charges, according to the decree.

The aforementioned regulation regarding trustee appointments had been previously included in an omnibus bill in parliament, but was later removed due to the opposition’s reaction.