Kızıltepe Municipality Co-Mayor arrested for campaign swing

2019-12-16 09:31:55


	MARDİN - Mardin Bar Association President İsmail Elik who stated that Kızıltepe Municipality Co- Mayor was jailed due to her work in the campaign swing for elections, said: "Every party canvasses during the election period. It is considered to be 'organizational activity' when HDP does it.

	 

	Kızıltepe Municipality Co- Mayor Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz, who was dismissed and a trustee was appointed to replace her, was arrested yesterday by the court. Yılmaz who were taken into custody on December 12 was arrested for her work with Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and her work for the campaing swing with the accusation of 'being a member of an illegal organization'. Her attorney, Mardin Bar President İsmail Elik stated that it was yet another dark day for law.

	 

	Elik stating that arresting co-mayors and appointing trustees in their places have become a routine, said the right to elect and to be elected was abolished and the freedom of person was suspended. Elik stating that there are no legal grounds to arrest Yılmaz, said: "DTK is a legal and civil platform of political parties, non- governmental organizations, artists, writers, humans' rights activists. It is a platform which the former parliament chairperson Cemil Çiçek requested proposals for constitutional studies and is still legal."

	 

	Elik expressed that the DTK was trying to be criminalized and Mardin Medical Chamber Co-Chair Derya Etem was taken into custody in this context and reminded that she is still under custody. 

	 

	Elik stating that the campaing swing of Yılmaz was also considered to be a crime, said: "Campaing swings and canvassing were considered to be a crime. And it was based on a statement of an anonymous witness. Every party organizes meetings, presentations and canvasses. It is considered to be 'organizational activity' when HDP does it."