Turkey Dismisses Two More Pro-Kurdish Mayors

Two opposition mayors in eastern Turkey, Cevdet Konak of Tunceli and Mustafa Sarigul of Ovacik, have been removed from office and sentenced to six years and three months in prison for alleged membership in the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Their dismissals are part of a broader trend, as they are the fifth and sixth pro-Kurdish mayors to be ousted in recent months, following local elections where the main opposition parties gained ground. The Turkish government, led by President Erdogan, has faced criticism for these actions, which opponents claim undermine democratic processes and target the Kurdish minority. Protests erupted in Tunceli following the announcement, with demonstrators accusing the government of eroding public will. Human rights organizations and the Council of Europe have condemned the dismissals, viewing them as politically motivated. The ongoing crackdown raises concerns about the state of democracy and governance in Turkey.