ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Four more mayors from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were dismissed and three detained on terror charges following their strong opposition to Turkey’s invasion of Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria.
Turkish security forces on Monday detained Adnan Selcuk Mizrakli, who was dismissed from his position as mayor of metropolitan Diyarbakir in August, and formally arrested him on Tuesday for his alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The mayors of Bismil, Kocakoy, and Kaypinar districts also in Diyarbakir province were dismissed and detained, as was the mayor of Ercis in the province of Van. The mayor of Bismil was later released under judicial supervision. All the dismissed officials were replaced by pro-government deputies, the officers of the provincial governors announced.
HDP has sharply criticized Turkey’s cross-border Operation Peace Spring against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, with party co-chair Pervin Buldan accusing the Turkish government of trying “to suffocate Kurds wherever we may be breathing!”
The party said on Monday that Turkish security forces had arrested 24 people for their opposition to the military offensive since its launch on October 9.
“Since October 9th, hundreds of people have been detained due to their social media postings critical of the war and at least 24 of them were arrested. HDP’s offices in many towns are under police blockade,” it said, adding that their lawmakers are not allowed to make public statements in front of party offices.
Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into HDP’s leaders, Buldan and Sezai Temelli, following their condemnation of the military operation that has been blasted by European leaders.
HDP said they will not be bowed under the pressure: “History has shown repeatedly that any power based on brute force is outlived by the struggle for justice and freedom. We will never bow down!”
The pro-Kurdish leftist HDP has been under constant pressure from successive government cabinets, especially after the failed coup of July 2016. HDP condemned the putsch but is very critical of the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Both of HDP’s former leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, as well as thousands of lawmakers, members and supporters have been jailed over terror-related charges in the past three years.
At least 12 HDP mayors – voted into office in the March 31 provincial elections – have been replaced by pro-government officials after being leveled with similar charges. The removal of mayors in Diyarbakir, Van, and Mardin in mid-August was the first example of a post-election crackdown against the winning HDP candidates.
The relationship between HDP and AKP deteriorated following the former’s support for Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of AKP’s rival the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and mayor of Istanbul.
Following Imamoglu’s victory in the August elections, Interior Minister Suleyman Solu threatened to “devastate” the newly-elected mayor over his condemnation of the persecution of Kurdish mayors.
