Turkish authorities sentence elected mayors of 3 cities in N. Kurdistan to prison

The Turkish authorities have sentenced the co-chair of the Dersim city municipality, Cevdet Konak, to 6 years and 3 months in prison, and the co-mayor of the Bilur municipality, Mustafa Sarigul, to the same term.

During the trial, both the co-chair of the Dersim municipality, Cevdet Konak, and the co-mayor of the Bilur municipality, Mustafa Sarigul, denied the charges against them, and the lawyers demanded that their clients be acquitted of the charges against them.

The Turkish authorities also imposed a 9-year prison sentence on the co-chair of the Gulmerk municipality, Mehmet Siddiq Akash.

On June 3, the Turkish Ministry of Interior issued a decision to dismiss Muhammad Siddiq Akash from the presidency of the Gulmerk municipality after he was elected to it, and to assign the duties of the presidency of the municipality to another person affiliated with the government.

Muhammad Siddiq Akash refuted the allegations and charges against him during the court session today, and considered his trial a political case.

Despite the defense presented by Akash and his lawyers, the judiciary deemed his defense unacceptable, and issued a sentence of 9 years in prison against him.

T/ Satt.

ANHA