ŞAREDARIYA
BAJARÊ MEZIN A AMEDÊ
DIYARBAKIR METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
REPORT ON DETAINMENT OF GULTAN KISANAK & FIRAT ANLI,
CO-MAYORS OF DIYARBAKIR
Diyarbakir, with a population of 1.8 million, politically and culturally the most significant
city in the Kurdish region of Turkey, is now facing another major challenge after months
of armed conflict in the city center that ended in March 2016. Co-Mayors of Diyarbakir,
Gultan Kisanak
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and Firat Anli were detained by Turkish police on 25 October 2016
around 9 PM. Just after the detention, the internet connection across the Kurdish region
was cut. As of 27 October 2016, millions of people still have no internet access. This
blackout attempt aims at silencing voice of people in the region as well as to prevent
them from exercising their right to be informed about developments.
Detention of co-mayors took place hours after the last official inspection process by the
Court of Audit ended, that was continuing for the last 3 weeks within Diyarbakir
Metropolitan Municipality. Although inspectors could not find any grounds for detaining
co-mayors with allegations of misuse of municipal power and infraction of rules, the
government detained co-mayors. As press release by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's
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Ms. Gultan Kisanak also serves as the co-chair of the Union of Southeastern Anatolia Region
Municipalities (GABB), which is an official umbrella organization bringing together 117
municipalities.
Address: Elazig Street, Yenisehir, 21100, Diyarbakir, Turkey -- Tel: +90412 223 46 23
Fax: 0 412 228 75 44