Mayor detained, released in KCK

DOĞUBAYAZIT - Doğan News Agency

Five people detained early Jan. 4 in the eastern province of Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt district, including the district’s mayor, were released later in the day pending trial.

Doğubayazıt Mayor Canan Korkmaz, a member of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) told reporters after their release that the group was detained as a part of a probe into Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).

All five people detained were members of the BDP, and one of the was the party’s district head. There are hundreds of BDP members, including mayors arrested pending trial in KCK cases all around the country. PKK is recognized as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union and Turkey.