More mayors detained, associations closed down as crackdown carries on in North Kurdistan

Dersim, Siirt co-mayors targeted · 35,000 people have been arrested in Turkey and 105,000 have lost their jobs after July coup

16.11.201612.00h

A portrait of Figen Yüksekdag is held in an HDP meeting after her detention. Author: HDP

A crackdown in Turkey's North Kurdistan continues to unfold after Dersim co-mayors Mehmet Ali Bul and Nurhayat Altun and Siirt co-mayor Tuncer Bakirhan were today detained by the Turkish police. The detentions come in addition to recent ones of the two Amed (Diyarbakir) co-mayors and of several prominent HDP leaders. Furthermore, dozens of Kurdish and Turkish associations have been closed down, as more and more press reports say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP party eyes a constitutional amendment that will vest him with new powers.

According to JINHA news agency, today's detentions are not limited to the three co-mayors, but also include HDP personnel and DISK trade union and Labour Party (EMEP) leaders. The reason for the arrests, the agency said, is the fact that politicians issued a statement condemning the arrests of the two Amed's co-mayors. Media close to the Turkish government, however, point to an "anti-terror" operation.

In recent days, Turkish authorities have closed down 370 associations over alleged links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), with far-left groups or with the Gülen Movement, whom Erdogan accused of having orchestrated the July coup.

Ten HDP MPs are being held since November 4, including party co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yüksekdag. The arrests took place in the context of an investigation in which the MPs were accused of "terrorism" and pro-PKK "propaganda".

After those arrests, the mainly Kurdish party announced it was halted all legislative activities in Parliament.

Further powers for President Erdogan?

Erdogan has for years sought to turn Turkey into a presidential republic. The Turkish leader has repeatedly cited the United States and semi-presidential France as good examples for Turkey.

According to sources quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat, the AKP is preparing a constitutional reform that would grant the Turkish president a veto right over Parliament decisions, and would grant him control over domestic and international policies. In practice, Erdogan is already carrying out those functions.

Turkey is also considering the reintroduction of the death penalty, Foreign minister Mevlut Çavusoglu said. Çavusoglu further spoke out against the European Union over the bloc's criticism against human rights' violations in Turkey.

According to Turkeypurge.com monitor, 35,000 people had been formally arrested and 105,000 had lost their jobs as of November 2016 after the government reaction to the July coup. 2,100 education centres and nearly 200 media outlets had been closed down.