Deposed co-mayor of Karayazı taken into custody
In the province of Erzurum, the co-mayor of Karayazı district, who was deposed by the Ministry of the Interior, and three other persons have been arrested.
The deposed co-mayor of Erzurum’s Karayazı district, Burhanettin Şahin of the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party), was arrested during a raid by the Turkish military police (gendarmerie) on Monday. The apartments of Mahmut Çimendağ, Fesih Polat and Adil Bingöl were also stormed in the operation. All four detainees are being held at the District Gendarmerie Command as the reason for the arrests is not known.
Burhanettin Şahin was removed from office last September at the instigation of the Turkish Ministry of the Interior. A trustee appointed by the Turkish government sits in his place in the town hall. At the same time as Şahin’s dismissal, 15 HDP city councilors from the districts of Karayazı, Tekman and Karaçoban were also removed from their posts. The counterpart of Şahin, co-mayor Melike Güksu (HDP), has been in prison since September 18.
