As part of its increasingly ongoing political genocide operations against the Kurdish people and their elected representatives, the Turkish regime targeted co-mayors of the three district municipalities held by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Mardin province on November 15.

Co-mayor of Savur district Gülistan Öncü, co-mayor of Mazıdağı district Nalan Özaydın and co-mayor of Derik district Mülkiye Esmez were taken into custody during house raids, and replaced by trustees one day later, Nov. 16.

Procedures for the detained co-mayors and some employees from the three municipalities have been completed at the security directorate after 12 days. Earlier today, all the detainees were referred to court.

The three co-mayors have been remanded in custody in the evening hours.

A total of 24 municipalities held by the HDP have been seized by the Turkish regime since August, including 3 metropolitan municipalities; Diyarbakır, Mardin, Van, Hakkari, Yüksekova, Nusaybin, Kulp, Kayapınar, Bismil, Kocaköy, Erciş, Karayazı, Cizre, Saray, Kızıltepe, Yenişehir, Hazro, İdil, Akpazar, İpekyolu, Suruç, Savur, Derik and Mazıdağı.