Nurhayat Altun was elected mayor of the city of Tunceli (Dersim) in the local elections of March 30, 2014 with a total of 7,250 votes and with a score of 42.46%. She was arrested on November 17, 2016 and is being held at the F-type prison in Kocaeli, northwestern Turkey.

A long indictment of 50,000 words has been drafted by Turkish prosecutors. Her trial began on July 3, 2017 and was adjourned until October 23, 2017 under the pretext of a heavy court caseload. Prosecutors are asking for 22 years in prison.