Turkey Removes Pro-Kurdish Mayors Over Terrorism Charges
The Turkish government has dismissed three mayors from office, citing alleged ties to the PKK, sparking widespread protests and international concern.
- The mayors of Mardin, Batman, and Halfeti, all members of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, were replaced by state-appointed officials.
- The dismissals are part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures, with the government accusing them of links to the banned PKK group.
- Protests erupted in several Kurdish-majority cities, with demonstrators condemning the actions as undemocratic and a violation of electoral rights.
- The Council of Europe expressed concern over the Turkish government's practice of appointing trustees, which it views as undermining local democracy.
- This move follows recent tensions and a failed peace initiative involving the PKK, as well as the arrest of a CHP mayor in Istanbul on similar charges.
Der Tagesspiegel 
junge Welt 
Die Tageszeitung 
Courrier International 
Breitbart 
Die Zeit 
DER SPIEGEL 
Associated Press 
The Jerusalem Post 