The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced through its social media account that a trustee has been appointed to the DEM Party's Hakkari (Colemêrg) Municipality.

Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was elected as the Mayor of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) with 48.92 percent in the elections held on 31 March in Hakkari, was detained in Van this morning. The municipality was blockaded after the mayor was taken into custody.

The Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Akış was suspended from duty and a trustee was appointed in his place. In a statement on the ministry's social media account, it was stated that there was a case file against the mayor numbered 2014/173 at the Hakkari 1st High Criminal Court, regarding the allegations of "leading a organisation", "being a member of a organisation" and "making propaganda for a organisation". It was noted that the trial in question continues.

It was also noted that there was a new investigation against Akış on the allegation of "being a member of an illegal organisation" and that he was taken into custody within the scope of this new file. The statement said that Akış was "suspended from duty by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a temporary measure."

Governor Ali Çelik was appointed as trustee.

Lawyer Özer: police and prosecutor have prepared a file together

Akış's lawyer, Azad Özer, met with the prosecutor's office in the morning regarding his client's situation.

Providing information to Mezopotamya Agency, lawyer Özer said: "There is a new investigation opened against my client. There is a confidentiality order on the file and a restriction has been imposed. It seems that this investigation is being carried out secretly. In other words, it is clearly seen that the law enforcement and the prosecutor prepared this file together. We could not find any information about the file. It is a new investigation."

DEM Party calls extraordinary meeting

The Central Executive Board (MYK) of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) decided to hold an extraordinary meeting against the detention of Hakkari Municipality co-mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış and his dismissal by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the appointment of a trustee.