Human rights organisations in Van (Wan), a predominantly Kurdish city in eastern Turkey, have documented severe police violence and mass arrests in response to protests against the Turkish government’s appointment of a trustee to replace the elected municipal administration. The report states that at least 348 people, including 70 children, have been detained since 15 February, while 55 individuals have suffered serious injuries, including bone fractures, due to excessive force by security forces.
The Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), Van Bar Association, Human Rights Association (İHD) and Turkey Human Rights Foundation (TİHV) held a joint press conference on Wednesday revealing the scale of the crackdown. They described the use of disproportionate force, including plastic bullets and tear gas, against peaceful demonstrators who had been protesting the removal of elected officials and the imposition of government control over the municipality.
According to the report, detainees have been subjected to mistreatment, including threats to prolong their detention if they insisted on seeing a lawyer. At least 44 individuals, including five children, have been formally arrested, while 76 others have been released under judicial control.
The repression also targeted elected officials. Protesters, including municipal co-mayors and parliamentarians, were reportedly encircled by riot police wielding shields. Journalists covering the protests faced obstruction, with six media workers detained while attempting to document the events.
The human rights groups condemned the state’s actions as severe violations of freedom of expression, the right to assembly, and due process. They called for an immediate end to the use of trusteeship to override democratic elections in Kurdish-majority cities and pledged to pursue legal action against those responsible for the violence.
