The pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party has launched a campaign to reverse the Turkish government’s appointment of Ali Çelik as trustee in Hakkari (Colemêrg), replacing the elected mayor, Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was removed from office on 3 June based on terror-related accusations.
“We will continue our struggle without interruption until the decision to appoint a trustee is reversed and our colleague Viyan Tekçe, who was elected by the municipal council members, is appointed as acting co-mayor,” said DEM Party deputy Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday.
During Tuesday’s DEM party group meeting, co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları criticised President Erdoğan and his ally, far-right leader Devlet Bahçeli, for supporting the appointment of the trustee. She condemned the move as a violation of Kurds’ right to vote and be elected, effectively denying them full citizenship in Turkey.
The DEM party has called for a rally on 13 June to protest against the trustee appointment and the sentencing of co-mayor Akış. The rally, which will be led by various political parties and institutions, will be held under the slogan, “Municipalities belong to the people; we will not allow confiscation.”
Ahead of the rally, civil society organisations and democratic institutions have organised “democracy marches” to mobilise the public. On the second day of these marches, the whole population of Hakkari was invited to join the rally.
In Istanbul, ‘Labour, Peace, and Democracy Forces’ have been holding a ‘Justice Vigil’ in Şişhane Square in Beyoğlu since 8 June to oppose the appointment of trustees in the Hakkari (Colemêrg) municipality. The vigil is now in its third day.
In addition to the public protests, the DEM Party is holding political consultations in Ankara. DEM deputies Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Sezai Temelli and Öztürk Türkdoğan met with representatives of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Felicity Party, and DEVA Party at the Turkish parliament. These discussions focused on fostering democratic opposition to the appointment of trustees.
Since 2018, trustee appointments have been a central tool in the repression of Kurdish self-governance. The forced removal of elected Kurdish officials is seen by Kurdish politicians as part of what they term a political genocide against Kurds.
Trustees are often involved in closing down Kurdish cultural and artistic institutions and changing the names of places that represent Kurdish collective memory. In addition, trustees have been linked to the misuse of municipal resources for personal or party interests and corruption.
