“We, as the people of Van—1.2 million strong—will protect our honour, pride, and will, no matter the cost,” declared Van (Wan) Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan as thousands of supporters rallied in front of the municipality building on Tuesday. The demonstration erupted after a Turkish court sentenced Zeydan to three years and nine months in prison in a case his party and supporters denounced as an effort to suppress opposition voices in the Kurdish-majority city.
Zeydan, who was elected in the 31 March local elections, accused the government of orchestrating a judicial attack to overturn the people’s will. “Those who could not defeat this people through democratic and legitimate means at the ballot box are now attempting to suppress the will of the people through judicial traps and conspiracies,” he said, as the crowd chanted, “Zeydan is our honour!” and “We will win by resisting!”
The verdict was delivered by Diyarbakır’s (Amed) 5th Heavy Penal Court in a case that opposition figures and human rights groups describe as part of a broader crackdown on elected Kurdish politicians. Zeydan’s conviction came despite earlier rulings by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) and the Court of Cassation, or the Supreme Court of Appeals, affirming his right to run in the elections. “Just one day before 31 March, in an attempt to usurp the election mandate, a decision was made under the command of the political power, ignoring the rule of law and justice,” Zeydan said.
Zeydan and Şedal, both members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, won the Van municipality with a sweeping majority. However, their victory has been overshadowed by legal battles that critics argue aim to discredit and remove elected Kurdish leaders. Turkish authorities have frequently dismissed and replaced Kurdish mayors with government-appointed trustees in recent years, citing terrorism-related allegations that opposition parties strongly deny.
Speaking at the protest, Co-Mayor Neslihan Şedal condemned the ruling, accusing the government of targeting the Kurdish population. “Nowhere in the world has it ever been seen that a government sustains its politics through the blood of the people, through the will of the people. Yet today, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government continues to survive by feeding off the blood of the Kurdish people,” she said, referring to Turkey’s ruling party.
Şedal also criticised what she called a systematic effort to undermine Kurdish political gains. “Our language was banned, our villages were burned down, and our leaders have been imprisoned in solitary confinement. But what happened? We rose up in millions. Today, this struggle is leading a revolution everywhere in Kurdistan,” she said.
The sentencing of Zeydan comes amid heightened political tensions in Turkey, where the government has been accused of using the judiciary to weaken the opposition. In 2019, Turkey removed dozens of elected mayors from pro-Kurdish parties and replaced them with trustees. Critics warn that the pattern is repeating despite international criticism and rulings by European courts condemning Ankara’s actions against Kurdish politicians.
The protesters in Van vowed to resist, with chants echoing through the square as security forces monitored the scene. “They have lost all international prestige. Every door has been shut on them,” Şedal declared. “We swear that we will never let them pass. The people of Van will not let them pass.”
By Tuesday afternoon, the demonstration showed no signs of abating. Supporters vowed to continue mobilising against what they see as an ongoing effort to override the democratic choice of the Kurdish electorate. “This decision is null and void,” Zeydan insisted. “The people of Van will not surrender their will.”
