The detention of Akdeniz Municipality Co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan, along with four municipal councillors, has sparked strong reactions from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and Republican People’s Party (CHP). The move, accompanied by the appointment of a trustee, has been criticised as a serious violation of democratic rights.
Police raids early on Friday morning led to the arrest of Akdeniz’s co-mayors and municipal councillors, with authorities imposing a police blockade on the municipal building. Officials cited a 2024 investigation as the reason for the arrests and announced the appointment of a trustee to take over the administration. A gag order was placed on the case, restricting the detainees’ access to legal representation for 24 hours.
The arrests sparked an immediate backlash from the DEM Party and CHP, who described the move as an undemocratic “attack on the public will”.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has previously been criticised for appointing trustees in opposition-led municipalities, particularly in Kurdish-majority regions. Critics argue that the government’s actions undermine democratic principles under the guise of counter-terrorism, while supporters claim they are necessary for national security.
Meanwhile, the AKP has recently been engaged in talks on the Kurdish issue, facilitated by its coalition partner, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). These efforts gained prominence after a delegation from the DEM Party visited PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan following his first lawyer and family visits in years. The same delegation later met with parties represented in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). These developments raised expectations that the AKP might take democratic steps to resolve the Kurdish question.
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DEM Party issued a statement after detentions
DEM Party Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları condemned the arrests, calling them “a direct attack on the right to vote and be elected”. She said, “The government’s insistence on appointing trustees even after losing elections undermines democracy and deprives people of their basic rights.”
Akdeniz belediye Eş Başkanlarımız Nuriye Aslan ve Hoşyar Sarıyıldız’ın gözaltına alınması, halk iradesine yönelik gerçekleştirilmiş açık bir darbedir.
Her seçimde yenilgiye uğrasa da iktidar, kayyım darbesinde ısrarcı. Bu ısrar; halkın seçme ve seçilme hakkının elinden… https://t.co/xPgspFVXkj
— Tülay Hatimoğulları (@TulayHatim) January 10, 2025
Tuncer Bakırhan, the other DEM Party co-chair, accused the government of targeting democratic governance and said, “This hostile act against the residents of Akdeniz is aimed at dismantling local governance. We will not give in to such repressive measures.” He vowed to continue to resist what he called ‘coup-like practices’.
Akdeniz Belediye Eşbaşkanlarımız Nuriye Arslan ve Hoşyar Sarıyıldız ile Meclis üyelerimiz siyasi kumpasla gözaltına alındı.
Akdeniz’de yaşayan halkların siyasi iradesine yönelik sergilenen bu düşmanca tutumla demokratik siyasetin ve yerel yönetimlerin tasfiyesi hedeflenmektedir.… pic.twitter.com/313hgv9ays
— Tuncer BAKIRHAN (@tuncerbakirhan) January 10, 2025
The DEM Party’s official statement echoed these sentiments, claiming: “The AKP’s actions reflect a refusal to accept the public will. Their attacks on democratic institutions and Kurdish communities will only deepen their losses”.
AKP iktidarı halk iradesine karşı darbeci pratiklerinden vazgeçmiyor. Sabah saatlerinde Mersin Akdeniz Belediyesi Eş Başkanlarımız Hoşyar Sarıyıldız ve Nuriye Aslan ile 4 belediye meclis üyemiz gözaltına alındı. Halkın belediyesi daha önceki örneklerden tanık olduğumuz üzere… pic.twitter.com/Wkg0rC2psg
— DEM Parti (@DEMGenelMerkezi) January 10, 2025
CHP members strongly condemned the appointment
CHP deputy leader Deniz Yücel also reacted strongly on social media, saying: “The AKP, which thinks it can deceive the nation with its ‘century of Turkey’ and ‘advanced democracy’ narratives, has added another undemocratic trustee practice to its record! A mindset that is so afraid of democracy, elections and the will of the people cannot govern this country. The people will show you the red card in the next elections.”
Durmak yok, yola devam!
“Türkiye Yüzyılı” ve “İleri Demokrasi” masallarıyla milleti uyuttuğunu zanneden AKP’nin antidemokratik kayyum uygulamalarına bir yenisi daha eklendi! Demokrasiden, sandıktan, millet iradesinden bu kadar korkan bir anlayış bu ülkeyi yönetemez. Bu millet…— Av. Deniz Yücel (@avdenizyucel) January 10, 2025
Similarly, CHP deputy chairman Burhanettin Bulut called the events a “blow to the public will” and said, “The arrests and the laying of the foundations for a trustee in Akdeniz municipality is a coup against democracy and the public will. We reject the AKP’s trustee despotism and its seizure of municipalities that it cannot win at the ballot box.”
Akdeniz Belediyesi’ne gözaltılarla, kayyum atanmasının taşlarının döşenmesi demokrasiye, halkın iradesine vurulan bir darbedir. İktidarın sandıkta kazanamadığı belediyeleri masa başında gasp etmesini, kayyum zorbalığını reddediyoruz.
— Burhanettin Bulut (@eczburhan) January 10, 2025
Meanwhile, protests erupted outside the municipality building as residents gathered to voice their discontent. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Long live the Kurdish resistance” and “Trustees out of our municipality”. Marches were organised in different neighbourhoods, with citizens demanding the reinstatement of elected officials.
Bedriye Kuş, co-chair of the DEM Party for Mersin, addressed the crowd and said: “This appointment of trustees is unacceptable. We call on the people of Mersin to defend their democratic rights.”
