HDP's Kulp District Co-Mayors Released

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The dismissed co-mayors of Kulp district in the mostly Kurdish-populated southeastern province of Diyarbakır has been released from prison.

Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay were replaced with trustees by the Ministry of Interior and remanded in custody on September 17 over an explosion of a roadside bomb that killed seven people and injured 13 in Ağaçkorur village in Kulp.

CLICK - Explosion in Diyarbakır: Seven People Lose Their Lives

Along with Taş and Ay, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kulp District Organization Chair Abidin Karaman, Civil Works Director of Kulp Municipality Şener Aktaş, Kulp Co-Mayor Fatma Ay and Mehmet Emin Ay were also sued for the explosion.

The five defendants were released after the first hearing of the case that was held at Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal court today (December 12).

CLICK - Kulp District Co-Mayors Arrested

Two days after the bomb attack in Diyarbakır, pro-government daily Yeni Şafak claimed that the attack was carried out by the HDP, citing "some security forces."

The Ministry of Interior has taken over 24 municipalities from the HDP since the local elections in March, dismissing co-mayors on the grounds of "terrorism-related investigations against them." (EKN/VK)