President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signaled that more Kurdish mayors will be removed from office, predicting that prosecutions will be conducted based criminal charges, the Turkish media reported.
“Do you believe there won’t be prosecutions against mayors? There will be. These are not sentimental decisions taken by us. The judiciary will decide,” Erdoğan told journalists on a flight back from Russia.
Turkey on Aug. 19 fired three Kurdish mayors from Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin on allegations of terrorism and appointed government trustees in their place.
Erdoğan also hinted at opening a discussion about the removal of immunity from prosecution of parliamentary deputies under investigation.
He said mayors and deputies must be thoroughly investigated before elections if they are accused of crimes.