Protests in Turkey’s Van province over trustee appointment enter tenth day

Turkish police intervened during the tenth day of demonstrations against the trustee appointment at the eastern Van Metropolitan Municipality. The elected mayor from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party was sentenced to over three years for "attempting to aid a terrorist organization."

Tuesday February 25 2025 03:39 pm

"Organizing Peace Through Women’s Freedom Struggle, Marching Against the Trustee," reads the protesters' banner.

Kadir Cesur / Gazete Duvar

Protests sparked by the appointment of a trustee to eastern Turkey's Van Metropolitan Municipality continued for the tenth day on Feb. 25.

As part of the demonstrations, women held a press statement under the slogan “Organizing Peace Through Women’s Freedom Struggle,” led by the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP).

The crowd gathers in front of the Van Mall, surrounded by police vehicles.

DEM Party Women’s Assembly Spokesperson Halide Türkoğlu, deposed co-mayors Abdullah Zeydan and Neslihan Şedal, members of parliament, district co-mayors, and the Peace Mothers Initiative attended the statement.

Authorities implemented extensive security measures in front of Van Mall AVM, where the statement was made. A large number of police officers and vehicles lined up between the sidewalk and the street.

After the statement, police attacked protesters who attempted to march. Police also intervened against journalists filming the scene. Protesters responded by chanting, “Free press cannot be silenced.” Following negotiations, only women were allowed to march. The march, accompanied by hundreds of police officers, continued.

On February 11, the court sentenced Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Zeydan of DEM Party to three years and nine months in prison on charges of “knowingly and willingly attempting to aid a terrorist organization.”

Following the ruling, the Interior Ministry announced that Zeydan was dismissed and replaced by Van Governor Ozan Balcı as acting mayor.

(English version by Ayşenaz Toptaş)