Arrested HDP Co-Mayors Sent from Diyarbakır to Kayseri

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Diyarbakır Metropolitan Co-Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, Kayapınar District Mayor Keziban Yılmaz and Kocaköy District Mayor Rojda Nazlıer have been sent to prisons in the central Anatolian province of Kayseri.

The three co-mayors from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were previously dismissed from their posts by the Ministry of Interior over "terrorism-related" investigations against them. They were arrested on October 22 as part of the investigations.

Mızraklı has been sent from Diyarbakır Type-D Closed Prison to Kayseri Closed Prison. Yılmaz and Nazlıer were transferred from Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison to Kayseri Women's Closed Prison.

The politicians were transferred to Kayser at around 5 a.m. on Saturday, the Mezopotamya Agency reported, quoting the attorneys of the co-mayors.

The Central Anatolian province of Kayseri is roughly 600 kilometers away from the mostly Kurdish populated southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

What happened?

The Ministry of Interior announced that they dismissed Metropolitan Mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı, Metropolitan Mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk and Metropolitan Mayor of Van Bedia Özgökçe Ertan on August 19.

Diyarbakır Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, Mardin Governor Mustafa Yaman and Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez have been appointed as Acting Metropolitan Mayors, or rather, as trustees.

As reported by Anadolu Agency, the mayors have been removed from office on the ground that there are 9 ongoing investigations against Diyarbakır Metropolitan Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, 6 ongoing investigations against Mardin Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Türk, 7 ongoing investigations against Van Metropolitan Mayor Bedia Özgükçe Ertan at heavy penal courts. (AS/VK)