Sabri Özdemir was the legitimate co-mayor in the Municipality of Batman held by the HDP and he was forcibly and illegally replaced by a State-appointed trustee.

Now the Central District Election Board has rejected Özdemir's candidacy on the grounds that he was on trial.

Özdemir's lawyer, Ferhat Özdemir, confirmed that they will appeal to the Provincial Election Board. “Previously my client had two deferred sentences, one to 5 months and one to 11 months. Yet these did not prevent him from being a candidate. On Monday we will appeal to the Provincial Election Board.”