Mustafa Bayram was elected co-mayor of Xelfetî (Halfeti), a district in the province of Riha (Urfa). Like many other Kurdish mayors, he was deposed, arrested and replaced by a trustee from Ankara. Today he was sentenced by the 6th Heavy Penal Court in Urfa to nine years, four months and 15 days in prison.

In addition to Bayram, four other Kurdish politicians were charged in the same case, who were also sentenced to between eight and nine years in prison for “membership of a terrorist group”.

The defendants argued in their defense that all the mentioned activities were of a legal political party and demanded their acquittal.