Turkish officials indicted over 'terror' links in urban consensus probe

Turkish prosecutors have sought up to 15 years in prison for ten municipal officials, accusing them of PKK ties through the "urban consensus" strategy, wherein the main opposition CHP collaborated with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party in major districts to nominate joint candidates in the 2024 local elections.

Saturday March 08 2025 12:51 am

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A Turkish prosecutor on March 7 prepared an indictment against ten people, including Kartal Deputy Mayor Cemalettin Yüksel and Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Livan Gür from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who were arrested in an operation as part of the "urban consensus" investigation.

Prosecutors seek prison sentences of 7.5 to 15 years for the ten suspects on charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization."

The indictment began with allegations that the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) were established under the instructions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.

It was alleged that the HDK is the continuation of the DTK and is part of the terrorist organization's structure.

The indictment claimed that "urban consensus," one of the opposition's strategies during the 2024 local elections, was an organizational activity of the PKK/KCK. However, no concrete evidence was presented to support the claim that urban consensus.

One example given in the indictment to show that urban consensus was a terrorist activity was the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer. The prosecution claimed that Ahmet Özer was elected mayor under the instructions of the organization, although his trial has not yet been held.

The basis for seeking punishment for Kartal Deputy Mayor Yüksel on charges of membership in a terrorist organization was his communication with 313 people who had criminal records between 2015 and 2025.

Yüksel's communication with four individuals arrested in the case and his participation in a WhatsApp group called "HDP 1st District Counties" were also cited as evidence of membership in the organization.

A note found in Yüksel's home stating, "There is no doubt. The way to heal the deep wounds caused by the October 6-8 events is to reveal the truth about these incidents," was also interpreted as evidence of organizational membership.

Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Gür was similarly accused based on his communication with individuals with criminal records.

Üsküdar Municipal Council Member Bülent Kayğun’s communication record with a person who had been in prison in the past ten years and his participation in a WhatsApp group called "Üsküdar Press" were presented as evidence of membership in a terrorist organization.

Sancaktepe Municipal Council Member Elif Gül's presence in a WhatsApp group named "Congress Group" and her communication with wanted individuals were cited as reasons to conclude she was a member of the organization.

For Fatih Municipal Council Member Güzin Alpaslan, the evidence presented was her inclusion in a news article titled "March 8 protests: Women will not bow to male-state violence."

Tuzla Municipal Council Member Hasan Özdemir’s participation in a WhatsApp group called "Tuzla DEM Party District Administration Group" was also considered evidence of membership in a terrorist organization.

For Beyoğlu Municipal Council Member Turabi Şen, the evidence presented was his communication in the past ten years with individuals who had been in prison or were wanted.

Şişli Municipal Council Member Sinan Gökçe’s communication with wanted individuals and his attendance at a legal congress where former HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar delivered a speech were cited as evidence of organizational membership.

Adalar Municipal Council Member Nesimi Ay’s involvement with those preparing the magazine "Democratic Modernity," and the records of communication between Beyoğlu Municipality Advisor İkbal Polat and wanted individuals, were presented as reasons to seek punishment for membership in a terrorist organization.

Despite an İzmir court’s ruling that the HDK is not an illegal organization, and the approval of this decision by the appeals court, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has determined in several investigations that the HDK is the continuation of the DTK and is a terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, at the times referenced in the indictment, the DTK was an organization recognized by the Turkish Parliament.

The then-Speaker of the Parliament, Cemil Çiçek, invited the DTK to the TBMM Constitutional Reconciliation Commission in 2012. In a letter dated January 19, 2012, Çiçek stated that the parliament would request DTK’s views and demands on the new constitution.

Following the parliament's request, the DTK prepared its proposals and demands regarding the new constitution. The DTK called for a constitution that is gender-liberated, does not discriminate between ethnic identities, and removes obstacles to freedom of thought, expression, and organization.

(English version by Ayşenaz Toptaş)