Detained DBP Mardin Co-Mayor Ahmet Türk referred to court for arrest

Mardin Co-Mayor Ahmet Türk was referred to a court with a demand for his arrest on Nov. 24 after he was ousted from his elected position by Turkey's authorities.

Türk, who represents the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), was initially taken to the Mardin Public Prosecutor's Office in the morning of Nov. 24 following proceedings at the police headquarters. He was later referred to the Criminal Court of Peace for arrest after testifying to the prosecutor.

Türk was detained on Nov. 21 after he was dismissed from his post as co-mayor as part of a terror investigation. The mayor of Mardin's central Artuklu district, Emin Irmak, who is also from the DBP, the sister party of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was also ousted by the government.

The Interior Ministry on Nov. 17 appointed Mardin Gov. Mustafa Yaman as the mayor to replace Türk, while trustees were also appointed to the municipalities of the eastern provinces of Van, Siirt and Tunceli on the same day following operations to oust the provinces' democratically elected leaders.