Allegations against the three mayors who were removed from office.

The Ministry of Interior announced that Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Türk, Batman Municipality Mayor Gülistan Sönük, and Şanlıurfa Halfeti Municipality Mayor Mehmet Karayılan have been suspended from their duties.

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BATMAN MUNICIPALITY

In a statement made by the Ministry of Interior, it was noted that Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Türk was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' under the Kobani Case numbered 2021/6 by the Ankara 22nd Heavy Criminal Court, that his trial for the crime of 'propagating a terrorist organization' is ongoing under the case numbered 2022/142 by the Ankara 14th Heavy Criminal Court, and that he was suspended from his duties as a temporary measure by the Ministry of Interior in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393 due to the investigation conducted by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office numbered 2024/7685 for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization'. Additionally, Mardin Governor Tuncay Akkoyun was appointed as the Acting Mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality in accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of the Municipal Law No. 5393.

GÜLİSTAN SÖNÜK SUSPENDED FROM DUTY

It was announced that Batman Municipality Mayor Gülistan Sönük was suspended from his duties as a temporary measure by the Ministry of Interior in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, due to his sentence of 6 years and 3 months in prison for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' under the case numbered 2023/70 by the Batman 2nd Heavy Criminal Court, the ongoing investigation conducted by the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor for the crime of 'propagating a terrorist organization' under the case numbered 2023/14816, and the ongoing investigation conducted by the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' under the case numbered 2024/7894. Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp was appointed as the Acting Mayor of Batman in place of Gülistan Sönük.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR BAŞOĞLU APPOINTED AS ACTING MAYOR

It was decided to suspend Şanlıurfa Halfeti Municipality Mayor Mehmet Karayılan from his duties as a temporary measure by the Ministry of Interior in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, due to his sentence of 6 years, 3 months, and 15 days in prison for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' under the case numbered 2020/136 by the Gaziantep 2nd Heavy Criminal Court, and the ongoing investigation conducted by the Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor for the crime of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' under the case numbered 2024/466. Hakan Başoğlu, the District Governor of Halfeti, was appointed as the Acting Mayor of Halfeti by the Şanlıurfa Governorship.