The week has begun with worrying news for Kurds and other citizens of Turkey: The Interior Ministry removed three elected mayors from their posts, citing their alleged links with terrorism, in mainly Kurdish southeastern provinces of Turkey. Government trustees were appointed to replace the mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van. There is no need to argue how ridiculous the charges are against the removed mayors, who were elected by 63%, 56% and 53% of the vote respectively in March 31 local elections. 

The mayor of Mardin, Ahmet Turk, was removed from the same post in the aftermath of the coup attempt in 2016 as part of a widespread crackdown on Kurdish politicians, activists and journalists. He is a veteran politician who has served at various intervals in the Turkish parliament since 1973, with a reputation far removed from any terrorism allegations.

Hugh Williamson, the Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said, “President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s government has effectively canceled the results of the March local elections in the three main cities of the Kurdish southeast and east by removing voters’ chosen mayors, all valid candidates, and taking over these municipalities. Smearing the mayors by alleging vague links with terrorism to deprive the Kurdish population of their chosen representatives endangers everyone in Turkey who is committed to democratic elections, human rights and the rule of law.”

The mayor of Diyarbakir, Selcuk Mizrakli, is a medical doctor who claimed the trustee earlier appointed as mayor by the Erdogan regime was involved in corruption.