Kemal Karadag
August 22, 2019•Update: August 22, 2019
ANKARA
Three mayors in eastern and southeastern Turkey suspended this week for allegedly supporting terrorism were already in the legal system facing terrorism charges, according to information from the Interior Ministry.
The mayors of the cities of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van already had active cases against them and face charges such as establishing or spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization or terror group membership, said information from the ministry compiled by Anadolu Agency.
All three mayors are from the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party Turkey's government has accused of having links to the PKK terror group.
Adnan Selcuk Mizrakli, the suspended mayor of Diyarbakir, faces eight investigations and a case for establishing or managing an armed terrorist group, being a member of an armed terrorist group, spreading terrorist propaganda, and praising crime and criminals.
Ahmet Turk, the suspended mayor of Mardin, faces four investigations and two cases for being a member of an armed terrorist group, establishing or managing an armed terrorist group, and willingly assisting an armed terrorist group.
Bedia Ozgokce Ertan, the suspended mayor of Van, faces six investigations and charges of spreading terrorist propaganda, being a member of an armed terrorist group, and praising crime and criminals.
After being elected this March, all three suspended mayors allegedly continued supporting the aims, ideological rhetoric, and actions of the terrorist PKK instead of serving the public, said the ministry.
The three allegedly worked with terrorist groups in the municipalities using false names and fronts, and aimed to make the municipalities a contact center for the terrorist PKK.
The mayors also allegedly allowed non-city employees to be involved in determining municipal spending, recruitment, and city council agendas. Non-employees were allegedly allowed to work in municipalities as if they were on staff and give orders to the municipal staff.
The mayors also allegedly tried to provide jobs and financial support to the relatives of PKK terrorists who had been neutralized in counter-terrorism operations and put pressure on the relatives of soldiers martyred in counter-terror operations.
In addition, they illegally implemented a “co-mayor” model that has no basis in Turkish law, the ministry added.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
