The Interior Ministry dismissed Van Mayor Bekir Kaya of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) from his post after law enforcement officials took him under custody on June 7, 2012 and subsequently arrested him four days later.

Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin approved the decision to relieve Mayor Kaya of his duties despite the fact that his grace period to appeal had not yet expired.

The letter sent to the Van Governor's Office said Mayor Kaya had been arrested on the charge of "membership in an armed organization" by order of a court decision dating to June 10, 2012 and that it would be appropriate to dismiss him.

"It has been decided to relieve Van Mayor Bekir Kaya of his duties as an interim measure based on the authority granted upon the Ministry of Interior in accordance with the fourth subclause of the constitution's 127th article and the 47th article of the 5393rd Municipality Law, if deemed suitable," the letter said.

Thousands go up in protest

Thousands of protesters staged a meeting on Saturday to protest the decision to arrest Van Mayor Bekir Kaya and nine other BDP members in Van, following their detention within the scope of the probe into the KCK.

BDP co-chairpersons Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak, BDP deputies Pervin Buldan, Özdal Üçer, Nazmi Gür, Hüsamettin Zenderlioğlu and Demir Çelik, other BDP administrators, and district and town mayors attended the rally as well.

Among the participants at the demonstration were also the BDP's Van Provincial head Mihriban Şah and Bostaniçi Mayor Nezahat Ergüneş, both of whom had been detained as part of the same operation, only to be released later on.

What had happened?

Officials detained Van Mayor Bekir Kaya and 14 others during an operation on June 7, 2012. They then arrested Mayor Kaya and nine others on June 11. Mayor Kaya's lawyers objected to the arrest, but they have not yet received a reply. (IC)