Türkiye detains mayor for links to PKK PHOTO

Mehmet Siddik Akis, who was elected mayor of Hakkari City from the People's Equality and Democracy Party in the general local elections on March 31, 2024, has been detained as part of an investigation into links to the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced this, noting that Ali Celik, governor of Hakkari province, will temporarily fulfil the duties of the mayor, according to NTV.

The detention was carried out on June 2 evening in the city of Van in the same region on the order of the Interior Ministry. Searches were conducted at the Hakkari Municipality. Police banned activists of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, represented by Akys, from holding street rallies for 10 days.

The mayor from the pro-Kurdish party is said to be accused of "membership in an armed terrorist organisation and its propaganda", "aiding and abetting terrorists" and extortion. A criminal case was previously opened against him under the relevant articles of the local Criminal Code and is being heard by the Hakkari Criminal Court.