The government dismissed the pro-Kurdish mayors of the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Halfeti District Municipality in Urfa, effectively removing mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party.
Following the news of the trustee appointment for Mardin, police cordoned off the municipality building early in the day.
In Batman, Sanliurfa and Mardin the governors banned public and private meetings, marches, press releases, and demonstrations.
In his initial reaction on social media, the elected mayor of Mardin, Ahmet Türk, declared, “We will never surrender. We will not retreat from the fight for democracy, peace, and freedom. We will not permit the usurpation of the people’s will. Let this be clear!”
The DEM Party expressed strong opposition to the appointment of officials in its three municipalities, highlighting the significance of the timing. In a statement, the party noted, “The persistence of this trustee takeover reflects political fatigue.”Turkish government appoint officials to replace three Kurdish mayors.
Over the years, the Turkish government has removed dozens of elected Kurdish mayors and replaced them with its own trustees
