Diyarbakir Mayor Remanded in suicide Probe

The mayor of the Turkish southeastern province of Diyarbakir was remanded late Sunday as part of an investigation into terrorism, judicial sources said.

    A few hours before Gultan Kisanak was remanded, the same court also remanded Democratic Regions Party Counselor Firat Anki in connection with the same terrorism investigation, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported.

    Last Tuesday, Kisanak, a member of the pro-PKK Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Anli and another local elected official were taken into custody by police from the Diyarbakir Security Directorate.

    The Chief Prosecutor's Office in Diyarbakir said in a statement that the mayor was arrested for being a member of an armed terrorist group. "It has been understood that Gultan Kisanak called for autonomy and made remarks that are pro-terrorist organization during Nevruz activities that were organized as directed by the PKK terrorist group," the statement said. 

    It also said Anli assigned municipality vehicles to help build a so-called cemetery for PKK members in 2014, after an attack that killed a Turkish soldier.

Source: QNA