More than 90 people were detained in Turkey’s Kurdish majority Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman (Êlih), and Halfeti (Xelfetî) on Monday as large-scale protests erupted over the Turkish government’s appointment of trustees to replace elected mayors of accused of “terrorism-related” charges. Protesters gathered near the municipal buildings in Mardin and Batman, where police responded with plastic bullets, water cannons, and tear gas, intensifying tensions across Turkey.
The Interior Ministry announced that trustees were appointed in these municipalities following ongoing cases against the mayors, who were accused of affiliations with a terrorist organisation. The appointments ignited public backlash, with residents and municipal council members chanting and clapping in defiance of the decision. In Mardin, protesters attempting to reach the municipality building faced a heavy police presence, and nine individuals were detained in evening house raids.
Similar scenes unfolded in Batman, where protests echoed through the city’s streets, ending with at least 75 detentions, including several local council members. Meanwhile, in Halfeti, where Mayor Mehmet Karayılan was removed, police dispersed crowds with water cannons and tear gas, detaining at least 11 people by day’s end.
The appointments have sparked sharp reactions from local residents, highlighting ongoing tensions in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority regions over the state’s trustee policy and perceived suppression of elected officials.
