Since the local elections held on 31 March last year, the Turkish government has appointed trustees to 11 municipalities. The latest intervention took place in Van, the second-largest Kurdish-majority province in the country.
The Justification for the Trustee Appointment
The government justified the appointment by citing a prison sentence given to the elected mayor, Abdullah Zeydan. His alleged crime? Years ago, during a military operation in the region, Zeydan attempted to rescue civilians caught between Turkish soldiers and guerrilla fighters. A court ruled that entering a restricted area to save civilians was illegal and sentenced him to 3 years and 9 months in prison.
Mass Arrests Following Public Outrage
Following Zeydan’s conviction, the Interior Ministry appointed a government trustee to replace him. The move sparked outrage among tens of thousands of protesters in Van, leading to a heavy police crackdown. Security forces detained over 400 people, and 40 were formally arrested—including five children.
Escalating Authoritarianism
The Erdoğan government has shown increasing hostility towards democratic opposition, removing elected mayors from office and imprisoning those who resist. The fact that even children protesting the removal of their mayor have been jailed highlights the regime’s growing intolerance and authoritarian grip on power.
This latest incident is yet another reminder of the shrinking space for democracy and human rights in Turkey, where even an attempt to save civilian lives can be deemed a crime.
