The European Union’s Turkey Rapporteur Nacho Sánchez Amor has condemned the Turkish government for removing, on 4 November, three more elected Kurdish mayors from their seats, as a continuation of the ‘trustee policy’ following a series of forced removals this year, and long-standing repression of Kurdish political representation in the country. He urged a solid response from the European Union.
“And now it’s the turn of #Mardin, #Batman & #Halfeti district, all clearly won by @DEMGenelMerkezi in [the] last local elections. Whatever the allegations, the whole system of trustees is a blatant attack to democracy by TR Gov, usurping the will of the people, that needs a clear #EU answer,” Amor posted on X (formerly Twitter).
And now
it’s the turn of #Mardin,
#Batman
& #Halfeti
district, all clearly won by @DEMGenelMerkezi
in last local 🗳️. Whatever the allegations, the whole system of
trustees is a blatant attack to democracy by 🇹🇷 Gov, usurping the will
of the people, that needs a clear #EU
answer— Nacho Sánchez Amor (@NachoSAmor) November
4, 2024
Unelected government ‘trustees’ were installed on Monday in Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman (Êlih) and Halfeti (Xelfetî), ousting the democratically elected mayors under the prerequiste that they faced charges related to alleged membership of a terrorist organisation, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry.
Amor’s comment comes amid severe backlash from political leaders and opposition figures across Turkey at the removals. Özgür Özel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and other prominent opposition voices have vowed to challenge the move, which they view as a politically motivated threat to democratic representation. Protests and rallies against the appointment of trustees have already erupted, with many criticising the government’s repeated dismissals of elected officials in Kurdish-majority regions.
The EU-Turkey rapporteur has long been a vocal critic of Turkey’s trustee policy, condemning it as a blatant attack on democratic principles which demolishes any hope for EU accession. Meanwhile, critics question the silence and inaction of international bodies on Turkey’s failure to adhere to democratic principles, amid other rights abuses.
The practice of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deposing elected Kurdish mayors has been ongoing for about a decade since the AKP suffered a loss of its majority in elections in 2015. Only last week, Istanbul’s Esenyurt District Mayor Ahmet Özer was arrested and replaced with a government-appointed trustee. Opposition leader Özgür Özel condemned the Turkish government’s decision, referencing other opposition figures, such as prominent Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş and former CHP Istanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu, who have faced prosecution under what he described as “politically motivated charges”.
In March, following the country’s local elections, the ruling party moved to replace newly elected Kurdish mayors, who had won with a landslide victory, from significant seats. Hakkari (Colemêrg) mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, elected on 31 March, was detained on accusations of terrorism – which has been the case in every instance of a Kurdish mayor being deposed – then removed from office by the Turkish government and replaced by a ‘trustee’.
Van (Wan) Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan was also temporarily deposed after a contentious ruling that had initially diverted the certificate to an opposition candidate, though widespread protests and appeals for justice led to his position being reinstated by the Supreme Electoral Board (YSK).
More details expected on Amor’s reactions, in a coming exclusive Medya News interview. Stay with us to learn more.
