Locals protest at southern Turkey courthouse as DEM Party co-mayors face 'terrorism' charges

Protesters have gathered outside the courthouse in southern Turkey's Akdeniz district as co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party charged with ties to "terrorism" were brought in to provide statements to the prosecutor.

Sunday January 12 2025 06:27 pm

Yüsra Batıhan / Gazete Duvar

Representatives from Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, members of the Peace Mothers Assembly, and legal organizations on Jan. 12 gathered in southern Mersin province's Akdeniz district.

Protesters met with ousted co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan outside the Akdeniz courthouse early in the morning. The co-mayors, along with Deputy Mayor Özgür Çağlar and municipal council members Neslihan Oruç, Yakup Danış, and Hikmet Bakırhan, gave statements to the prosecutor after being detained on Jan. 10 on charges of "membership in an organization."

As the co-mayors’ statements continued, the crowd maintained their presence outside the courthouse. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Justice, rights, law,” “Akdeniz is ours and will remain ours,” and “Akdenîz ya me ye, şaredarî ya me ye” (Akdeniz is ours, the municipality is ours) to protest the detentions.

The demonstration continued with traditional dances and songs. Dengbêj Ramazan Eren, also known as Xale Ramazan, performed songs during the protest.

The detained municipal officials were expected to appear before an on-duty court following their statements to the prosecutor.

As part of an investigation initiated by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Turkish authorities detained Sarıyıldız and Arslan from the DEM Party.

The investigation was being conducted on charges including "propagating for a terrorist organization," "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "violations under the Law on the Prevention of Financing of Terrorism," and "violations of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations," according to the state-run Anadolu Agency’s (AA) report.

Since Jan. 10, Akdeniz Municipality has been under police blockade, and the entrance to Mersin Courthouse was barricaded starting Jan. 11.

Ankara has appointed several trustees to replace elected mayors from the DEM Party and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) since the 2024 local elections.

This move came amid the recent attempt of the government to reconcile with Kurdish politicians, DEM Party, and outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.

(English version by Ayşenaz Toptaş)