Ali Akdeniz was elected to the City Council from the HDP in the March 31 elections in Sirnak’s Cizre district. Akdeniz was detained on March 23 and subsequently arrested for “membership to a terrorist organization”. Upon his arrest, the Sirnak Governorate appealed to the Interior Ministry to remove him from office and the ministry ruled to have Akdeniz “removed from office as a temporary measure”.

FINDIK: HE WAS GIVEN HIS MANDATE WHEN HE WAS UNDER ARREST

HDP’s City Council President Cevher Findik said the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) gave Akdeniz his mandate even though he was under arrest, and protested the ruling.

Another City Council Member elected from the HDP, Selahattin Barinc, had his mandate taken away for having been dismissed with a Statutory Decree (KHK) before.