Turkish police brutally attack protests against trustee mayors

Duvar English

Protests continued throughout Nov. 4 in response to the replacement of pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party mayors with trustee appointments in Mardin and Batman provinces along with the Halfeti district of Şanlıurfa.

Mardin

Following the removal of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Türk from office, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan traveled to Mardin and addressed those gathered in front of the municipality. Main-opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel also spoke to the crowd from atop a bus.

After Özel finished his speech and left the area, police intervened against the protesters gathered in front of the municipality building.

The officers used water cannons and fired rubber bullets at the demonstrators.

Batman

The Batman branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) announced that many people were detained following the appointment of a trustee to Batman Municipality to replace Gülistan Sönük.

The İHD shared a photo, reporting that those detained were subjected to degrading treatment, handcuffed behind their backs near the wall of the municipality building.

In a post from İHD Batman's X account, it stated, "Following the appointment of a trustee to Batman Municipality, numerous individuals waiting in front of the building were detained by force. The detainees were subjected to treatment incompatible with human dignity, handcuffed behind their backs along the municipality building’s wall."

At least 75 people detained in the protests throughout the day in Batman.

Following the appointment of a trustee, the office of Batman Sonsöz newspaper, which was covering the developments, was raided by police. Journalist Serhat Aslan was detained but later released.

Halfeti

Protests continued throughout the day in Şanlıurfa’s Halfeti district in response to the removal of Mayor Mehmet Karayılan and the appointment of a trustee in his place. 

Police used water cannons and pepper spray on crowds gathered near the municipal building.