Protests intensified across Turkey’s Kurdish-majority cities of Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman (Êlih), and Halfeti (Xelfetî) following the government’s controversial appointment of trustees to local councils, replacing democratically elected mayors. Large crowds, including opposition politicians, human rights advocates, and citizens, took to the streets, calling for the restoration of local governance. Authorities responded with severe police measures, including water cannons and tear gas, sparking allegations of police brutality amounting to torture.
🟡 BATMAN YİNE KARIŞTI!.. KAYYUM PROTESTOLARI İKİNCİ GÜNÜNDE
▪️ Batman Belediyesine dün atanan kayyumdan sonra başlayan protestolar devam ederken, olaylar tekrar başladı.
▪️ Belediye yürümek isteyen vatandaşlara polis tazyikli su ve biber gazı ile müdahalede bulundu. pic.twitter.com/bIB6OwRUyT
— Batman Burada (@batmanburada) November 5, 2024
The wave of unrest began after Turkey’s Ministry of the Interior, on 4 November, announced the replacement of mayors in key Kurdish municipalities. Residents argue the move suppresses democratic rights and reflects a broader disregard for local governance. Demonstrations gathered momentum quickly, with throngs converging at symbolic locations such as Batman’s Habip Park and Salih Özdemir Park, and marching toward city halls under slogans such as “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Women, Life, Freedom) and “Kayyum Defol” (Trustees, Leave).
In Batman, the protests were led by prominent figures, including Keskin Bayındır, Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), and Gülistan Sönük, the recently displaced mayor of Batman. They were joined by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democracy and Equality (DEM) Party representatives and a delegation from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), underlining the cross-party opposition to the government’s actions.
🟡 BATMAN’DA KAYYUMA KARŞI YÜRÜYÜŞ!
◾️Batman’da kayyum atanmasından sonra başlayan eylemler sürüyor. Kayyum, yapılan yürüyüşle protesto edildi.
◾️Yerine kayyım atanan Batman Belediye Eşbaşkanı Gülistan Sönük, “Halfeti, Mardin, Batman hukuksuz bir şekilde gasp edildi. Bu… pic.twitter.com/o4sYA0mH1c
— Batman Burada (@batmanburada) November 4, 2024
Violence escalated outside Batman City Hall when police forces confronted protesters with armoured vehicles, high-pressure water cannons, and tear gas. In one incident, Jin News journalist Pelşin Çetinkaya was reportedly beaten and dragged across the ground before being detained. Witness accounts describe the scenes as chaotic, with several journalists and protesters detained amid widespread condemnation from human rights groups.
JinNews muhabiri Pelşîn Çetînkaya işkence edilerek gözaltına alındı. Basın çalışanı olduğu bilindiği halde haber yapması engelenen ve sonrasında işkence edilerek gözaltına alınan meslektaşımıza yapılan bu insanlık dışı muameleyi kabul etmiyoruz. pic.twitter.com/SfmwjmCzbR
— Mezopotamya Kadın Gazeteciler Derneği (@mkgdernek) November 5, 2024
A spokesperson for the Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association condemned the treatment of Çetinkaya, calling it a blatant violation of press freedoms and describing her detention as an act of torture. The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association and DİSK Basın-İş Union released statements demanding her immediate release, along with that of other detained journalists, including Yeni Yaşam newspaper correspondent Veysi Aküren.
The unrest has drawn significant political reactions. DEM Party spokesperson Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki emphasised that the replacement of local officials by government-appointed trustees represents “a blow to Turkey’s democracy” and asserted that these actions go beyond Kurdish issues, affecting democratic rights nationwide. He urged solidarity from across Turkey, warning that silence could allow further erosion of democratic institutions.
CHP General Vice-President Gökan Zeybek, who joined the protests, said the government’s refusal to acknowledge the will of the Kurdish people undermines fundamental democratic principles. “This regime cannot understand that these cities are Turkey’s, these people are Turkey’s,” Zeybek stated. He called on Turkish citizens to stand in solidarity with Kurdish regions, suggesting that these actions highlight deeper systemic issues within Turkey’s democratic framework.
As protests continued, reports surfaced of a child as young as 10 being temporarily detained by police. The image of the child’s detention further fuelled public outrage, with citizens and rights organisations accusing authorities of using disproportionate force.
🟡 ÇOCUK SERBEST BIRAKILDI!
▪️ Batman’da protesto eylemlerinde gözaltına alınan 10 yaşlarındaki çocuk, kimlik tespiti yapıldıktan sonra serbest bırakıldı. https://t.co/ZReMADjvmN
— Batman Burada (@batmanburada) November 5, 2024
The trustee appointments reflect a policy frequently deployed by the Turkish government in response to perceived separatist threats within Kurdish-majority regions. Critics argue that the trusteeships, which have removed elected officials in several Kurdish municipalities, are an attempt to erode Kurdish political influence and stifle local governance.
Amid heavy police presence, the scenes were often punctuated by the traditional Kurdish zılgıt, or ululation, resonating through the streets as citizens displayed peace signs from windows and balconies. While the government insists the trusteeships are a necessary measure for stability, residents of these towns assert that they constitute an infringement of their right to self-governance and a direct assault on Kurdish identity.
With protests spreading and intensifying across cities, opposition leaders are calling for renewed support to oppose the trusteeships, with some framing it as an existential threat to Turkey’s democratic integrity. Batman Mayor Gülistan Sönük vowed to continue the protests, declaring, “We will be in the streets until the trustees retreat. These streets are ours.”
The coming days will test the resilience of both the protesters and authorities, as public outrage over police responses grows. The ongoing tension underscores the deep divisions within Turkey over Kurdish rights and the government’s handling of local governance.
