BDP mayor’s 10-year term approved

ERZURUM – Anatolia News Agency

Dağpınar Mayor Ayhan Erkmen was arrested Dec. 25, 2011, after Kars Police Department’s wire-tapping operation against him. DHA photo

The Supreme Court of Appeals has approved a 10-year prison sentence for the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) mayor in the town of Dağpınar in the eastern province of Kars.

Dağpınar Mayor Ayhan Erkmen was sentenced to 14 years and 10 months in total by the Erzurum fourth High Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail for “being a member of the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK,” two years and five months for “making propaganda for a terror organization,” and two years and five months for “threats by use of terror organization’s power.”

The Supreme Court of Appeals approved the 10-years sentence on charges of “being a member of a terrorist organization,” but reversed the judgment on the two other sentences.

Erkmen was arrested Dec. 25, 2011, after Kars Police Department’s wire-tapping operation against him.