İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited Mardin (Mêrdîn) on Saturday, criticising the Turkish government’s appointment of trustees in place of elected mayors. The visit was seen as a significant gesture of solidarity with Ahmet Türk and Devrim Demir, the dismissed co-mayors of the Kurdish-majority Mardin province.
Accompanied by a delegation that included prominent municipal leaders and opposition politicians, İmamoğlu was welcomed at Mardin by Türk, Demir, Diyarbakır (Amed) co-mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, and representatives of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. The group first visited Türk’s home in Derik for a private meeting and lunch.
Trustee appointments ‘a national embarrassment’
İmamoğlu strongly condemned the replacement of elected officials with government-appointed trustees, describing the policy as undemocratic and damaging to public trust. “Discussing the denial of the right to vote and be elected in the Republic’s second century is deeply shameful. This is a national embarrassment,” he said.
İmamoğlu highlighted the demoralising effects of trustee policies on citizens, adding, “When people’s rights and authorities are stripped away, their faith in the country diminishes. Looking towards the future with hope becomes increasingly difficult.”
Following the visit, İmamoğlu posted on X: “Today in Mardin, we visited and were hosted by Mr. Ahmet Türk, our Union of Turkish Municipalities board member. I thank him and his esteemed family for their warm hospitality. The intervention against the will of Mardin, one of Turkey’s most ancient and beautiful cities, must be reversed immediately. We bid farewell to Mardin with a visit to the Deyrulzafaran Monastery after greeting our shopkeepers and citizens.”
Ahmet Türk, the veteran Kurdish politician and former co-mayor, also criticised the practice. “Trustee policies will never lead to democracy. What we need is justice, law and an end to policies that marginalise people,” Türk stated.
Emphasis on local governance and solidarity
İmamoğlu stressed the importance of strengthening local governance for Turkey’s development, warning of the consequences of centralising municipal powers. “Democracy cannot flourish where local governance is undermined. We must empower municipalities to drive development and strengthen our country,” he said.
Reflecting on discussions with opposition leaders about the trustee issue, İmamoğlu noted widespread concern, even within the ruling party. “Even within the government, there are those who feel a deep sense of shame. This damages the credibility of our country and our democracy,” he remarked.
The delegation included Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Mersin Mayor Vahap Seçer, Adıyaman (Semsûr) Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere and Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs Gökçe Gökçen, Gül Çiftci and Mahmut Tanal. Their presence was intended to demonstrate unity and solidarity with the dismissed mayors.
Engaging with Mardin’s community
The group toured Artuklu’s old city, meeting shopkeepers in Cumhuriyet (Republic) Square and conversing with residents. During the visit, Ahmet Türk gifted İmamoğlu a traditional Mardin rosary, symbolising mutual respect and camaraderie.
The delegation then visited Deyrul Zaferan Monastery, a historic Syriac Christian site dating back to the 5th century. Metropolitan Saliba Özmen welcomed the visitors and guided them through the monastery, highlighting its cultural and religious significance.
“Mardin, with its rich tapestry of cultures and beliefs, stands as a testament to the power of diversity. We must protect this heritage from the damage caused by undemocratic practices,” İmamoğlu stated during the visit.
Calls for justice and national unity
İmamoğlu used the visit to advocate for justice and unity, framing the issues in Mardin as part of a broader struggle for democracy across Turkey. “Turkey’s east, west, north and south must come together for justice, peace and democracy. This is not just a regional issue—it’s a national imperative,” he said.
He described his delegation’s presence in Mardin as a demonstration of solidarity, adding, “Every citizen has a role to play in creating a peace that benefits everyone. Justice, democracy and unity are essential for the future of this country.”
He also recalled past trustee appointments in İstanbul’s CHP-led Esenyurt district, stressing that the issue transcends regional boundaries. “This is not limited to the east. In the heart of İstanbul, a trustee was appointed. The struggle for democracy is a shared cause for all of Turkey,” he said.
The trustee appointments in Kurdish-majority regions have drawn widespread criticism from opposition parties and civil society, who argue that the practice undermines democratic processes. İmamoğlu’s visit highlighted the broader implications of these policies, connecting them to the centralisation of power and the erosion of municipal autonomy across the country.
In Mardin, İmamoğlu delivered a message of hope and resilience, emphasising the importance of solidarity in the face of challenges. “Our presence here today symbolises unity and shared values. Together, we will work towards a Turkey where trust in governance is restored,” he said.
The visit symbolises a critical moment in the opposition’s unity against the Turkish government’s undemocratic practices, particularly the imposition of appointed trustees to replace democratically elected mayors.
