The Turkish government has dismissed three mayors accused of terrorist crimes in the country's southeastern parts, announces the Ministry of the Interior. The three are replaced by administrators.
All three dismissed mayors in the cities of Mardin, Batman, and Halfeti belong to the largest pro-Kurdish party DEM. They were elected in the local election in March when opposition candidates were elected in many cities around Turkey.
Last week, the mayor of the Esenyurt district in Istanbul was arrested. He belongs to the largest opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP) and is accused of alleged ties to the banned and terrorist-stamped Kurdish PKK.
The arrest has been criticized by both CHP and DEM.
