Step back from the Court of Cassation: Ruling on Van Mayor Abdullah Zeydan found irregular

The banned rights of Abdullah Zeydan, who was elected as the Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality as a DEM Party candidate in the March 31 local elections, had been revoked by a court decision following an objection by the Ministry of Justice before the election. 

Following the election, the Van Provincial Election Board had decided to grant the mayoral mandate to the second-place AKP candidate, Abdulahat Arvas, instead of Zeydan. However, the Supreme Election Council, which reviewed the objection to this decision, overturned the Van Provincial Election Board's ruling and decided that the mandate should be given to Zeydan.

OBJECTION AT THE COURT OF CASSATION

The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation reviewed the local court's decision regarding the restoration of Zeydan's banned rights. The Chamber stated that the restoration of banned rights must take place three years after the execution of the sentence, and announced that this date for Zeydan is December 20, 2025.

TWO RULINGS FOUND IRREGULAR AND OVERTURNED

The Court of Cassation also found the decision on the restoration of banned rights issued by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court, as well as the decision by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to annul that same decision, to be irregular. Overturning these two decisions, the Court of Cassation sent the file back to the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.

A NEW PROCESS WILL BEGIN FOR THE REVOCATION OF THE MANDATE 

If the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court issues a verdict in accordance with the Court of Cassation's decision, Abdullah Zeydan's Van Metropolitan Municipality mayoral mandate will be cancelled and the mayoral office will be given to another individual.

News Source: 12punto