Southeast Turkish city mayor arrested in terror probe

By Hasan Namli

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) – The mayor of Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey’s largest city, was arrested late Tuesday as part of an anti-terrorism investigation, a local security official said.

Gulten Kisanak, a member of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), was taken into custody by police from the Diyarbakir Security Directorate.

Kisanak was arrested at the city’s airport as part of an inquiry into PKK terrorism, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Firat Anli, another local elected official, was arrested at his home as part of the same investigation. They were both taken to Security Directorate premises, the source said.

Kisanak was a parliamentary deputy for Diyarbakir province between 2007 and 2014 before becoming the city’s first female mayor in March 2014.

The Chief Prosecutor's Office in Diyarbakir said in a statement early Wednesday that the mayor was arrested because of "being a member of an armed terrorist group.

"It has been understood that Gultan Kisanak called for an autonomy and made remarks that are pro-terrorist organization during Nevruz activities that was organized upon the call of PKK terrorist group," the statement said.

"Upon the evidence that shows Kisanak directed the registered official vehicles to the funerals of terrorist members, taking part in unlawful meetings and demonstrations and their making pro-PKK remarks, Kisanak has been arrested," it added.

Regarding Firat Anli, the statement said he also assigned municipalities' registered vehicles in building a so-called cemetery for terrorist members in 2014, when an attack martyred a Turkish soldier.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year. Since then, PKK terrorist attacks have martyred more than 700 security personnel and also claimed the lives of many civilians, including women and children, while more than 8,000 PKK terrorists were killed in military operations.

Reporting by Hasan Namli, writing by Emin Avundukluoglu and Satuk Bugra Kutlugun