Maria Arena MEP expresses solidarity with dismissed mayors

The president of the European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee said; "Turkey must guarantee direct and full commitment to the principles of democratic representation to allow the Kurds to express themselves."

The president of the European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee, Maria Arena, expressed her solidarity with the dismissed co-mayors of the HDP.

In her statement Arena said: "I'm worried about the recent police operation carried out against the HDP representatives in Turkey's southeast. Terrorism investigation have been used used as legitimate grounds to dismiss the mayors of Diyarbakir, Van and Mardin. It is unacceptable to ignore the people's will. I express my deep solidarity with Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı, Ahmet Türk and Bedia Özgökçe Ertan who have been overwhelmingly elected on 31 March 2019."

Arena added: "The European Parliament has repeatedly expressed concerns over the dismissal of mayors and deputies in this region, their arrest and the government appointment of trustees. Now, as a result of this new decision, once again a large part of the population of Turkey has been deprived of its a democratic representation at local level. This development is a clear attempt to further weaken Turkey's local democratic structure. Turkey must guarantee direct and full commitment to the principles of democratic representation to allow the Kurds to express themselves."