List of arrested mayors in Turkey

Last updated

The following is an incomplete list of arrested mayors in Turkey.

Contents

Arrested Mayors
MayorDistrictArrestedReleasedStatusChargePartySource
Mehdi Zana Diyarbakır March 1980April 1991releasedIndependent [1]
Fikri Sönmez Fatsa 11 July 1980died in prison on May 4, 1985Revolutionary activity, “Communist Fatsa” chargeIndependent
Ali Dinçer Ankara Sept. 1980released CHP

1999–2009

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Istanbul 27 March 1999July 1999released after four monthssentenced to 10 months imprisonment for citing a poem Welfare Party [2]
Feridun Çelik Diyarbakır Feb. 200028 Feb. 2000releasedFor allegedly supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). HADEP [3] [4]
Selim Özalp Siirt Feb. 2000Feb. 2000releasedFor allegedly supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). HADEP [3] [5]
Feyzullah Karaaslan Bingöl Feb. 2000Feb. 2000releasedFor allegedly supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). HADEP [3] [5]
2009–2014
Ferit Çelik Karliova 5 April 2012sentenced to 8 yearsSentenced for aiding and abetting the PKK [6] BDP [7] [6]
Abdullah Akengin Dicle Dec. 2009February 2013 [8] imprisoned for over 3 yearsIn relation with the KCK trial BDP [9]
Abdullah Demirbaş Sur Dec. 2009May 2010released on medical groundsAmong other charges were "using the Kurdish language in his official capacity" [10] BDP [11] [10]
Aydin Budak Cizre 23-24 Dec. 2009sentenced to 7 years and 6 months BDP [12] [13]
Zülküf Karatekin Kayapınar 23-24 Dec. 2009sentenced to 9 yearsfor being “member of an organization“ [14] during a trial of members of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) BDP [13]
Nejdet Atalay Batman 23-24 Dec. 2009sentenced to 1 year and 8 monthsSentenced for calling Members of the PKK "warriors of the Kurdish people in mountains" [15] BDP [13]
Etem Şahin Suruç 23-24 Dec. 2009sentenced to 1 year and 9 monthsFor speaking Kurdish during his election campaign and violated the law concerning marches and manifestations. [16] BDP [13]
Leyla Güven Viranşehir 29 Dec. 2009Sep. 2014more than 4 years in prison BDP [17] [18]
Ferhat Türk Kiziltepe 28 De. 2009Feb. 2013imprisoned for over 3 yearsIn relation with the KCK trial BDP [19] [8]
Yusuf Yilmaz Patnos 13 Feb. 2010sentenced to 7 years 6 monthsFor membership in an illegal organization in the KCK-trial [20] BDP

2014–2019

Sevil Rojbin Çetin Edremit 14 Aug. 2015sentenced to 10 yearsFor membership in a terror organization [21] DBP [21] [22]
Dilek Hatipoğlu Hakkari 23 Aug. 2015sentenced to 15 years. [23] In Sincan prison [24] After having made declarations of self-rule in August 2015, she was sentenced for disrupting the "unity and integrity of the state" [25] DBP [26]
Seyit Narin Sur 24 Aug. 2015 [27] sentenced to 11 years and 3 months, [28] arrested in Rize [29] prosecuted for terror related charges DBP [28]
Diba Keskin Erçis 15 Oct. 2015sentenced to 13 years, 9 months DBP [30] [31]
Leyla Îmret Cizre 22 Jan. 2016prosecuted, in exile DBP [32] [33]
Zeynep Sipçik Dargeçit March 2016sentenced to 13.5 years. [34] In Sincan prison [22] Convicted of membership in a terrorist organization [34] DBP
Hazal Aras Diyadin 3 March 2016June 2017prosecuted DBP [35] [36]
Abdullah Çalışkan Saray 20 April 2016 [37] sentenced to 7 years, 6 monthsfor membership in a terror organization DBP [38]
Mehmet Muhdi Aslan İdil 25 Sept. 2016 DBP [31]
Abdurrahman Zorlu Hani 1 Oct. 2016 DBP [31]
Gültan Kişanak Diyarbakır 30 Oct. 2016prosecuted DBP [39] [40]
Sabite Ekinci Varto 10 Nov. 2016 [41] Imprisoned in Sincan prison. [24] For membership in a terrorist organization. [42] DBP
Ahmet Türk Mardin Nov. 2016Feb 2017prosecuted DBP [43] [44]
Mehmet Ali Bul Tunceli Nov. 2016sentenced to 8 years and 9 months DBP [28]
Hüseyin Olan Bitlis 25 Nov. 2016Imprisoned between 2014 and 2022 [45] DBP [31] [46]
Halis Çoskun Malazgirt 29 Nov. 2016sentenced to 12 years imprisonment DBP [47] [48]
Ismail Asi Kiziltepe 2 Dec. 2016prosecuted, arrested in Sakran prison in Izmir DBP [49]
Seferi Yılmaz Semdinli 6 Dec. 2016 DBP [50]
Mehmet Ali Aydin Kayapinar 8 Dec. 2016 DBP [51]
Selim Kurbanoğlu Yenişehir 8 Dec. 2016 DBP [51]
Servet Tunc Çukurka 8 Dec. 2016 DBP [51]
Tuncer Bakırhan Siirt 16 Dec. 2016sentenced to 10 years and 15 days imprisonment DBP [52]
Fırat Öztürk Tutak Jan. 2017prosecuted DBP [53]
Sara Kaya Nusaybin Jan. 2017sentenced to 1 year,

and another 16 years imprisonment

 DBP [54] [55]
Süleyman Tekin Ömerli 5 Jan. 2017 DBP [56]
Celalettin Bartu Çatak 5 Jan. 2017 DBP [28]
Zeynel Taş Bozova 6 Jan. 2017sentenced to 11 years and 10 months imprisonment [57] DBP [58]
Sadiye Süer Baran Kulp 6 Jan. 2017prosecuted DBP [59] [60]
Emrullah Cin Viranşehir 6 Jan. 2017sentenced to 6 years and 3 months imprisonment DBP [58] [61]
Murat Ruhat Özbay Dogubayezit February 2017membership in a terrorist organization DBP [62]
Afüllah KarKoçaköyFebruary 2017membership for a terrorist organization DBP [63]
Bekir Kaya Van 11 June 2017sentenced to 8 years, 3 Months

and another 15 Years imprisonment

DBP [64] [65] [66]
Rezan Zuĝurlu Lice 17 Nov. 2017sentenced to 4 years, 2 Months imprisonment DBP [67]
Şerafettin Özalp Özalp 7 May 201827 May 2018prosecuted DBP [68] [69]
2019 -
Mehmet Fatih Taş Kulp Sep. 2019prosecuted HDP [70]
Melike Göksu Karayazı Sep. 2019prosecuted HDP [71]
İrfan Sarı Yüksekova 15 Oct. 2019prosecuted HDP [72]
Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı Diyarbakır 21 Oct. 2019 [73] sentenced to 9 years, 4 months imprisonment. [74] Having been imprisoned in Diyarbakir and Kayseri he is currently in Edirne [75] Sentenced with being a member of the PKK [74] HDP
Rojda Nazlıer Kocaköy 22 Oct. 2019sentenced to 9 years imprisonmentCharged with being a member of the PKK HDP [76] [77]
Keziban Yılmaz Kayapınar 22 Oct. 2019March 2020 [78] sentenced to 7 years and 6 months but released HDP [76]
Azim Yacan Ipekyolu Nov. 2019prosecuted HDP [79]
Hatice Çevik Suruç 20 Nov. 2019prosecuted HDP [80]
Gülistan Öncü Savur 26 Nov. 2019prosecuted HDP [81]
Nalan Özaydın Mazıdağı 26 Nov. 2019prosecuted HDP [81]
Mülkiye Esmez Derik 26 Nov. 2019prosecuted HDP [81]
Yılmaz Şalan Muradiye 10 Dec. 2019prosecuted HDP [82]
Dilan Örenci Özalp 10 Dec. 2019prosecuted HDP [82]
Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz Kiziltepe 16 Dez. 2019prosecutedArrested in Tarsus HDP [83] [84]
Feyme Filiz Buluttekin Sur 23 Dec. 2019sentenced to 7 years and 6 month imprisonment HDP [85] [86]
Mustafa Akkul Eğil 25 March 2020prosecuted HDP [87]
Casim Budak Alınova 16 May 2020prosecuted HDP [88]
Yaşar Akkuş Iğdır 19 May 2020sentenced to 7 years and 6 month imprisonment HDP [89] [90]
Ayhan Bilgen Kars 2 Oct. 2020released pending trial in June 2021 [91] Charged with organizing the Kobanî protests [92] during the Siege of Kobani by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). HDP [92]
Gürbüz Çapan Esenyurt 26 Mar. 200419 May 2004Released after 54 days in prison pending trial. [93] Arrested over corruption and bid rigging allegations; sentenced to prison terms in subsequent trials. CHP

2024 - 2025

Hüseyin Sarı Erdek 20 Nov. 201925 Nov. 2019Released after serving a brief sentence following conviction. [94] Convicted for misconduct in office; sentenced to 1 year and 15 days in prison. CHP [95]
Ahmet Özer Esenyurt 31 Oct. 2024 CHP
Cevdet Konak Tunceli 20 Nov. 2024 CHP
Mustafa Sarıgül Ovacık 20 Nov. 2024 CHP
Rıza Akpolat Beşiktaş 13 Jan. 2025Charged with establishing and managing a criminal organization CHP
Alaattin Köseler Beykoz 3 Mar. 2025 CHP
Ekrem İmamoğlu Istanbul 23 Mar. 2025 CHP
Mehmet Murat Çalık Beylikdüzü 23 Mar. 2025 CHP
Resul Emrah Şahan Şişli 23 Mar. 2025 CHP
Utku Caner Çaykara Avcılar 5 Jun. 2025 CHP
Hasan Akgün Büyükçekmece 5 Jun. 2025 CHP
Hakan Bahçetepe Gaziosmanpaşa 5 Jun. 2025 CHP


Oya Tekin Seyhan 5 Jun. 2025 CHP
Kadir Aydar Ceyhan 5 Jun. 2025 CHP
Muhittin Böcek Antalya 5 Jul. 2025 CHP
Zeydan Karalar Adana 8 Jul. 2025 CHP
Niyazi Nefi Kara Manavgat 8 Jul. 2025 CHP

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Background Information - 08-10-2004". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  2. ↑ Shambayati, Hootan (2004). "A Tale of Two Mayors: Courts and Politics in Iran and Turkey" . International Journal of Middle East Studies. 36 (2): 267. doi:10.1017/S0020743804362057. ISSN   0020-7438. JSTOR   3880034.
  3. 1 2 3 "RIGHTS-TURKEY: Kurdish Mayors Arrested | Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  4. ↑ "Turkey: Turkey: Kurdish mayors released / February 28, 2000 / Urgent Interventions / Urgent campaigns / OMCT". www.omct.org. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  5. 1 2 Watts, Nicole F. (2011-07-01). Activists in Office: Kurdish Politics and Protest in Turkey. University of Washington Press. pp. 113–114. ISBN   978-0-295-80082-0.
  6. 1 2 "Twenty six years prison sentence in Karlýova KCK case". ANF News. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  7. ↑ "Thirty one Kurdish mayors behind bars". ANF News. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  8. 1 2 "10 people released in KCK case - Türkiye News". Hürriyet Daily News . Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  9. ↑ "Anti-PKK operation leads to detention of Kurdish mayors" (PDF). Kurdish Institute of Paris . Today's Zaman. p. 67.
  10. 1 2 "Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş Arrested in Diyarbakir". Armenian National Committee of America. 2015-09-01. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Mayor of Sur Demirbaş back to work | ANF". 2010-05-21. Archived from the original on 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  12. ↑ "Kurdish mayor sentenced to 7,5 years in prison". ANF News. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Endoroglu, Erol (5 January 2010). "International Appeal for Release of Human Rights Defenders". Bianet. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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  35. ↑ "The Kurdish Institute of Paris - kurde, kurdish, kurd kurdisch kurda curda curdo, kurdistan curdistan". Institutkurde.org. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
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  40. ↑ "Prison Sentences for HDP's Kışanak, Tuncel Overturned". Bianet. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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  71. ↑ "Karayazı District Mayor Replaced with Trustee After Her Arrest". Bianet. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
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  74. 1 2 Tuncel, Ruken (9 March 2020). "Ousted Diyarbakır Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı Handed Prison Sentence on 'Terrorism' Charges". Bianet. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
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  76. 1 2 "Arrested HDP Co-Mayors Sent from Diyarbakır to Kayseri". Bianet. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
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  80. ↑ "Court arrests pro-Kurdish party's Suruç co-mayor". www.duvarenglish.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  81. 1 2 3 "Three sacked HDP mayors arrested in Turkey's southeast". www.duvarenglish.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  82. 1 2 "HDP's 3 Co-Mayors in Van Arrested". Bianet. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  83. ↑ "Co-mayor of Kızıltepe transferred to Tarsus". mezopotamyaajansi.com. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  84. ↑ "HDP's Kızıltepe District Co-Mayor Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz Arrested". Bianet . Retrieved 29 December 2021.
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  86. ↑ "Turkish authorities arrest local mayor over alleged terror links". UPI. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  87. ↑ "HDP's Eğil Co-Mayor Arrested". Bianet. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  88. ↑ "HDP's Dismissed Altınova Co-Mayor Budak Arrested". Bianet. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  89. ↑ "HDP's Iğdır Co-Mayor Arrested". Bianet. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  90. ↑ "Mayor Akkuş: We will continue smiling despite everything". ANF News. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  91. ↑ "4 HDP politicians released in Kobané Case". Mezapotamya Ajansi. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  92. 1 2 "Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen arrested, trustee appointed to Kars Municipality". Bianet. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  93. ↑ "Gürbüz Çapan tahliye edildi". Hürriyet. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  94. ↑ "Erdek Belediye Başkanı Hüseyin Sarı görevinden uzaklaştırıldı". Birgün. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  95. ↑ "Erdek Belediye Başkanı Hüseyin Sarı görevinden uzaklaştırıldı". Birgün. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2025.


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