Dismissed Kurdish mayors in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority eastern city of Van (Wan) urged a visiting delegation from the Council of Europe on Monday to take stronger action against Ankara’s continued appointment of unelected ‘trustees’ to replace elected officials, calling it an erosion of democratic principles.
The delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, led by President Marc Cools and co-rapporteur Bryony Rudkin, met with ousted mayors and civil society representatives at the Van Bar Association building. Among those in attendance were Van Metropolitan Municipality’s co-mayors Neslihan Şedal and Abdullah Zeydan, and Bahçesaray (Miks) co-mayors Nebahat Benek and Ayvaz Hazır – all of whom were removed despite their electoral victories.
“These dismissals violate the rule of law,” said Cools. “Imprisoning elected officials without finalised court decisions contradicts democratic standards. Even in such cases, replacements should be appointed from the elected council, not from outside.”
Zeydan, previously imprisoned and later removed from office, criticised Europe for what he described as a muted response to long-standing abuses targeting Kurds in Turkey. “The silence of European institutions has emboldened anti-democratic practices, not just against Kurds but against all dissent,” he said. He pointed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in his favour, lamenting the Council of Europe’s failure to enforce its implementation.
Şedal underlined that the co-mayor system championed by Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party promotes gender equality and grassroots democracy. “We believe true democracy starts with women’s participation,” she said. “Our co-leadership model strengthens local governance and inclusivity.”
The mayors also voiced support for a recent public call by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, whom they described as promoting dialogue and peace. “This is a historic call that could benefit everyone,” said Zeydan, urging European governments to push Turkey’s government to re-engage in democratic reforms.
The delegation received a detailed report on the trustee policy, which has seen dozens of elected Kurdish officials removed or jailed since 2016, often on terrorism-related charges their supporters dismiss as politically motivated.
