STORY: Turkish authorities remove mayor over terror charges
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 29, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 29, 2025
LENGTH: 00:00:55
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Turkish police and the supporter of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party in front of the Siirt Municipality (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency)
2. various of a photo of former Siirt Mayor Sofya Alagas (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency)
3. various of Turkish police and the supporter of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party in front of the Siirt Municipality (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency)
4. various of Siirt Governor Dr. Kemal Kizilay (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency)
5. various of some old footage about the Siirt Municipality (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency)

STORYLINE:

Turkish authorities on Wednesday removed a mayor in the eastern province of Siirt following a conviction on "terrorism-related" charges, the country's interior ministry said.
   
The former mayor Sofya Alagas was sentenced to six years and three months in prison by a Diyarbakir court for being a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said the ministry in a statement.
   
As a result, she was dismissed from her role, and Siirt Governor Dr. Kemal Kizilay was appointed as acting mayor, according to the statement.
   
The Turkish government has recently replaced several mayors and municipality members affiliated with pro-Kurdish parties, citing security concerns and alleged links to the PKK.
   
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in armed rebellion against the Turkish government for four decades.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)