HDP’s arrested district mayor in eastern Turkey removed over ‘self-governance’ remarks

VAN - Anadolu Agency

The Interior Ministry removed a district co-mayor in the southeastern province of Van from her post on Oct. 28, on charges of “declaring self-governance.”

Erciş District co-mayor Diba Keskin, elected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) ticket, was arrested after allegedly announcing “self-governance” in the district in a press statement on Oct. 14, and was removed from her position on Oct. 28.

The district prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation into Keskin’s remarks and she was arrested on the grounds of “acts aimed at undermining the state’s independence and unity.”

The Interior Ministry had on Oct. 15 suspended the co-mayors of the southeastern province of Batman, Sabri Özdemir and Gülistan Akel, along with 17 members of the municipal council and three members of the provincial council, on the grounds that they made “self-governance” statements. They are all now under legal investigation.