Co-mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, Bekir Kaya, was jailed on 18 November 2016 after the AKP regime usurped the municipality as part of a total crackdown on Kurdish municipalities. He remains behind bars in Silivri Prison for 18 months.

Hearing in the case against Kaya was held at Van 2nd Heavy Penal Court on Tuesday. Kaya’s lawyers, political party representatives and many other people attended the hearing.

The panel of judges rejected lawyers’ appeal for Kaya’s release and ruled for the continuation of his detention.