ANKARA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Tuesday that those who think Turkey will tolerate the presence of terrorism are "very wrong," state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
He made the comment one day after three mayors, all elected in the local elections in March, were dismissed.
Being elected does not mean that one will be acquitted of committing "terror crimes," and that it is irresponsible to link democracy and terrorism through "legitimate channels," said the minster.
"The fundamental role of law and democracy is to not to let terrorism exploit the pure votes cast by the people," Soylu added.
The sacked mayors are from the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, which Turkey's government has accused of having ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a terrorist group deemed by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
