AKP-appointed trustee Salih Akman, who replaced the freely and democratically elected HDP co-mayors of Tuşba Municipality, has now occupied the room used by HDP council members.

Akman invented and allocated this room to an invented 'deputy mayor', a figure not present in the municipal legislation.

Turkish Interior Ministry has dismissed five HDP council members of the 20 elected in the 31 March local elections.

HDP co-mayor Ayşe Minaz, who was not given a certificate but won the elections, said that Akman is mobbing the HDP councillors in the hope to avoid their opposition.

Minaz said: "There is no figure called Deputy Mayor. They took over our room and this is probably because they don't want us to come to the municipality. The democratic opposition we carry out clearly disturbs them. Despite all the harassment we will continue our struggle and continue to be the voice of our people."

HDP Tuşba Municipal Council Member Servet Aktaş said that trustee Akman was hostile to the members of the municipal council who have been elected by the people. Aktaş reminded that only council members have to undergo x-rays control when they enter the council and added that they will continue to "defend the rights of the people who have elected us."