ANKARA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye removed three pro-Kurdish mayors from office in southeastern cities on Monday, citing terrorism-related convictions and charges, and appointed trustees to replace them, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry.
The mayors, from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, were removed from their roles in Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Halfeti District Municipality in Sanliurfa due to alleged connections to "membership in an armed terrorist organization," the ministry said in the statement.
The DEM Party, which holds 57 seats in the parliament, has seen several mayors replaced previously over similar accusations.
Just a week earlier, a mayor from the opposition Republican People's Party was arrested on charges of affiliation with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The Turkish government links the DEM party to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the EU, and has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
The latest government move followed an October attack on Turkish defense and aviation company TUSAS in Ankara which left five people dead. The PKK has claimed responsibility for the attack. ■