Several investigations have been launched against former Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş of Sur district of Turkey’s primarily Kurdish-populated Diyarbakır city.

One of these investigations against Demirbaş, who has returned to his profession as teacher, is in connection with his visit to Armenia in August 2015, according to Cumhuriyet daily newspaper of Turkey. 

The inquiry notes that, being a school teacher, he was obligated to inform the school administration about his trip to Armenia and talks with the senior Armenian official.

In his counter argument, however, Abdullah Demirbaş referred to the freedom to travel and human rights, and stressed that he can travel to any country in the summer holidays.

“And meeting with the President of the Republic of Armenia is never considered a crime under the laws, or the regulations for civil servants of the Republic of Turkey,” he noted.

At the initiative of then Mayor Abdullah Demirbaş of Sur, “Sur City Hall” was written in Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, and Assyrian on the sign placed at the entrance of the municipality building. Demirbaş has also published several Armenian tales in Armenian and in Turkish. In addition, and at his initiative, the Diyarbakır travel guide was published in Armenian. Furthermore, “Welcome” was written in Armenian on the signs that were placed on the roads entering Diyarbakır. In September 2013, and again at Demirbaş’s initiative, a memorial devoted to the Armenians, Kurds, Assyrians, Jews, and Yezidis, who were massacred in Turkey, was placed in Diyarbakır. Abdullah Demirbaş has also assisted in the restoration and ensuing maintenance of St. Giragos (Surp Giragos) Armenian Church in Sur district.