The Ministry of Interior Affairs on Wednesday appointed a trustee to the Savur Municipality in Mardin province, which was run by a pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DBP) mayor.
Savur district governor İdris Koç was appointed as a trustee to replace Savur Mayor Mehmet Aydın Alökmen, who was detained as part of a terror probe on Feb. 25.
The number of local municipalities that have been taken away from elected mayors in predominantly Kurdish provinces as part of an ongoing crackdown against Kurdish politicians has exceeded 80.
Turkey has stepped up political pressure on Kurdish politicians in recent months. In addition to appointment of trustees to the management of scores of municipalities, Turkey has arrested dozens of Kurdish politicians including 13 pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members.
