Turkey purges 28 municipal mayors over alleged Kurdish militant links
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkey purges 28 municipal mayors over alleged Kurdish militant links, 11 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58189d70a.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 11, 2016
Turkey has removed local mayors believed to support Kurdish militants and appointed new administrators in 24 municipalities, mostly in the largely Kurdish southeast, a provincial governor's office said on September 11.
The municipalities were run by local associates of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Diyarbakir governor's office said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on September 8 that the campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed group which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, was Turkey's largest ever and the removal of civil servants was part of that effort.
Erdogan sees the HDP as an extension of the PKK. HDP denies any direct links to the PKK, saying that it promotes a negotiated settlement to the insurgency.
Meanwhile, Ankara continues its purge of tens of thousands of supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Turkey accuses Gulen of organizing the failed coup in July. Gulen denies any involvement.
Based on reporting by Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
