Turkish gov’t appoints trustees to oust 3 Kurdish mayors

Duvar English

The Turkish government on Nov. 4 appointed trustees to three municipalities led by pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party on the grounds of “terrorism investigations.”

In a statement by the Interior Ministry, the appointment of trustees to Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Şanlıurfa's Halfeti District Municipality was justified by the convictions and ongoing cases against their mayors for "membership in an armed terrorist organization."

The mayors who were dismissed from office have been replaced by governors in Batman and Mardin, and a district governor in Halfeti.

Mardin

Following the announcement of a trustee appointment to Mardin, police surrounded the municipality building early in the morning. 

In his initial response on social media, Mardin’s elected mayor Ahmet Türk stated, "We will never give up. We will not back down from the struggle for democracy, peace, and freedom. We will not allow the seizure of the people's will. Let this be known!"

Mardin Governor also immediately announced a 10-day ban on open and closed meetings, marches, press statements, sit-ins and demonstrations in the city.

Speaking to Sözcü TV over the phone, Türk recounted how police officers knocked on his door around 6:00 a.m. (local time), notifying him of his dismissal. He described opening the door in his pajamas and objecting when an officer attempted to take a photo, saying, “This is unnecessary.”

Mardin's elected mayor noted that his friends, party members, and MPs were gradually arriving, while water cannons were stationed in front of the municipality building. "We don’t know what they’re planning," he added, clarifying that he had only been informed of his removal and had not yet received any official notification of a trustee appointment.

In the March 31, 2024 local elections, Türk secured 57.4% of the votes, creating a substantial lead over the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate, who received 27.78%. 

Batman

Batman Mayor Gülistan Sönük said in her X account, "Our municipality, which we won with the highest vote percentage in Turkey on March 31 through the efforts of women, youth, and our people, was seized without any notification this morning. We have not accepted and will not accept this looting and seizure regime. Municipalities belong to the people."

Batman’s elected mayor announced in a separate message that she was heading to the municipality building, while reports showed that the appointed trustee also arrived shortly after the decision. High security measures were put in place around the building.

Sönük won in Batman with 64.52% of the vote, defeating her closest rival from the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR.), a radical Islamist and misogynistic ally of the ruling coalition.

DEM Party later shared a video showing Sönük prevented from entering the building by the police.

Halfeti

Following the appointment of a trustee to Halfeti Municipality, the building was placed under police blockade early in the morning, and Mayor Mehmet Karayılan was taken into custody. 

The public has been kept at a distance from the cordoned-off municipality building.

In Halfeti, Karayılan won with 39.45% of the vote, edging out the AKP candidate, who garnered 34.97%.

DEM: 'Insistence on trustees a sign of political exhaustion'

DEM Party reacted strongly to the appointment of trustees to its three more municipalities, drawing attention to the timing. In a statement, the party remarked, “The insistence on this trustee coup is a sign of political exhaustion.”

"The AKP-MHP government has seized the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Urfa Halfeti Municipality this morning, following their actions in Hakkari and Esenyurt. The fact that this coup coincides with the anniversary of the parliamentary coup against the will of the Kurdish people on Nov. 4, 2016, is significant. This attack on the democratic political presence of the Kurdish people is a continuation of a failed 30-year repetition of efforts to eliminate them, dating back to 1994," the party stated.

On Nov. 4, 2016, nine members of the DEM's predecessor Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), including co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, were arrested. Following this, pressure on many Kurdish politicians intensified, and nearly all municipalities won in the 2019 local elections were assigned trustees.

The pro-Kurdish party said, "The AKP-MHP government has turned its habit of seizing power through judicial and coercive means, after failing to win elections, into a regime characterized by trustee appointments. This attack is a significant assault on the Kurdish people's right to vote and be elected. The blockade of local administrations and municipalities, which should allow for direct public participation, and their transformation into quasi-police stations, is a clear declaration of the end of the current political regime's democratic legitimacy."

Turkey's ruling coalition has experienced a significant lost in 2024 local elections with AKP loosing most of its municipalities to opposition parties.

CHP: 'Time for words almost over'

Main-opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel also shared a message on X, "This morning, a trustee was appointed to replace Ahmet Türk, the first name that comes to mind when we talk about peace in Turkey, one of the key figures in political dialogue, alongside two other elected mayors."

Özel also reminded the recent trustee appointment to their Istanbul's Esenyurt District Municipality.

"Despite the events of recent days, without learning any lessons, ignoring what has been said, seizing municipalities they could not win in elections, and daring to remove politicians they cannot reform through a coup, we are faced with individuals who have a twisted mindset, a malicious heart, dirty hands, and an unabashed, brazen attitude," he stated.

"I warn you, the time for words is almost over. Everything necessary will be done to combat this evil," main-opposition leader said.