Turkish police detain symbolic figure of trustee protests with torture

The protestor who went viral on social media for his speech during protests following the appointment of a trustee to the Batman Municipality was taken into custody under torture by Turkish police.

Wednesday November 06 2024 11:40 pm

Duvar English

The protester who went viral for his speech during the protests against the dismissal of Batman Mayor Gülistan Sönük and the appointment of a trustee by the Turkish Interior Ministry has been detained under torture.

According to İhlas News Agency's (İHA) report, the protestor was the one who made the famous remarks during the protests on the first day the trustee decision was announced, "We chose this mayor ourselves, we worked day and night, our people chose this mayor. We are the people, you are the colonizers, leave this place. Governor, you are usurping the will of the people, even Israel is better than you."

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.

The protestor’s speech in the street against the police officers who barricaded the municipality building went viral on social media platforms.

However, photos of him after he was taken into custody showed clear signs of abuse on his face, with visible bruises and a blackened eye.

Meanwhile, the Batman Governor’s Office, who is now running the municipality as well, announced that an investigation had been launched into the police officers following the controversial images of the arrests that sparked public backlash.

Eight detained in Halfeti

At the Halfeti district in Şanlıurfa, another municipality lost it's mayor from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, the protests continued on the third day.

At least 16 people protesting in front of the municipal building were arrested in a police attack.

140 detained in trustee protests

The General Directorate of Security reported that 16 security personnel were injured during the trustee protests in 8 provinces, and a total of 140 protesters were detained.

It was also announced that legal proceedings have been initiated against 75 account users who were identified as having made "provocative posts" on social media platforms.

Hundreds form human chain in Van to protest trustee appointments

The protests also continued in eastern Van province where people had regained their mayor from the DEM party after a trustee appointment in May.

The protests, which have been ongoing for days in support of the municipalities where trustees have been appointed, have been taking place under heavy police blockade.

During the protest on Nov. 6, hundreds of people linked arms and formed a human chain stretching hundreds of meters in the city center. As slogans were frequently chanted, a parallel police cordon was also formed.

The human chain is mirrored by a police chain in Van.