Amid ongoing protests against the appointment of government trustees, masked individuals claiming to be police officers reportedly attempted to detain a journalist in Batman (Êlih), Turkey. For days, the people of Batman have been resisting the government’s decision to impose trustees on local municipalities, a move that has sparked mass protests. In the midst of these demonstrations, masked and armed individuals have appeared on the streets, raising concerns.
The latest incident involved Veysi Akören, a journalist with the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, who was approached by masked individuals as he was leaving the protest area. These individuals, who claimed to be police but were unable to show any identification, brandished firearms and threatened journalists in the vicinity. They eventually fled after facing strong reactions from bystanders and other journalists.
📌 Batman’da kendini polis olarak tanıtan maskeli kişiler, Yeni Yaşam Gazetesi çalışanı Veysi Akören’i gözaltına almak istedi
➡️ Silah çekip gazetecileri tehdit eden kişiler, çevredeki insanların ve gazetecilerin tepkisi sonrası kaçtı pic.twitter.com/OvqNqd0Mi7
— duvaR (@gazeteduvar) November 8, 2024
The presence of unidentified figures in Batman is particularly troubling given the city’s painful history with extrajudicial state violence in the 1990s. Batman witnessed numerous incidents of state-linked paramilitary actions and human rights abuses during that period, making the reappearance of such actors deeply unsettling for the community.
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party spokesperson, Ayşegül Doğan, addressed the disturbing presence of these unidentified individuals in Batman in a social media post. She questioned their legitimacy, saying: “For days, masked persons claiming to be police have been on the streets of Batman, brandishing weapons, intimidating citizens and causing violence. Are these people employed by your ministry, or if not, which institution do they work for? Why can’t they show their identity cards? We demand transparency on this issue and call for the immediate removal of these unidentified individuals from the streets. Stop repressing people who are peacefully expressing their legitimate demands!”
The protests erupted after the Interior Ministry appointed trustees to oversee the municipalities of Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman, and the district of Halfeti (Xêlfetî), a decision met with strong backlash from local communities. Batman’s residents have been at the forefront of these demonstrations, voicing their opposition to what they see as an erosion of local democratic rights.
Turkey’s use of trustees has drawn criticism both domestically and internationally, with some observers describing it as a violation of democratic principles. While the government insists that the trustee appointments are essential, opposition parties claim the practice is part of a broader strategy to stifle dissent and extend central control over Kurdish-majority areas.
