Protests in Van (Wan) have intensified following the sentencing of co-mayor Abdullah Zeydan to three years and nine months in prison for ‘attempting to support a terrorist organisation’. The ruling has been widely condemned, with many seeing it as a politically motivated move to stifle opposition in the Kurdish-majority city. Thousands of Van residents have gathered in defiance, braving freezing temperatures to hold a vigil outside the city hall. They have vowed to oppose the possible appointment of a government trustee to replace Zeydan, which they see as a direct attack on their democratic rights.
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In an interview with the Mezopotamya Agency on the third day of the protests, Zeydan emphasised the importance of the ongoing resistance: “The resistance of the people of Van has become a beacon of hope and pride for everyone. Today, our people are not only defending democracy, but also the basic values of justice, rights and the rule of law. This is not just a fight for Van – it is a fight for the future of all 85 million citizens of Turkey. The resistance we are witnessing here is a message that goes beyond the borders of the city. We will continue to defend democracy, whatever the cost.”
Zeydan sharply criticised the political nature of the verdict and highlighted its wider implications for Turkey’s judicial system in an interview with Gazete Duvar. “The judiciary is now completely dependent on political power and makes decisions in line with the interests of the ruling party,” Zeydan said. “The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Turkey for these politically motivated trials, and yet another such verdict has been issued.” He condemned the judiciary for its complicity with the government’s agenda, especially in the Kurdish regions where such attacks on democracy have become systematic.
Zeydan also raised an important question about Kurdish politics in Turkey: “What are we, the Kurds, supposed to do when we are constantly pushed out of the political process, when our democratic will is ignored and we are silenced?” He highlighted the continued exclusion of Kurds from political life and reiterated that the people of Van are determined to resist this marginalisation.
The co-mayor of Van, Neslihan Şedal, also expressed her support for the protests and condemned the policy of government-appointed trustees as an attack on Kurdish self-government. “The trustees are part of a century-old policy aimed at destroying the Kurdish people’s right to self-government, culture and identity,” said Şedal, stressing that the ruling party’s policy is aimed at silencing the Kurdish voice. She added that the Democratic Regions Party’s (DBP) model of governance, which focuses on multilingualism, gender equality and local democracy, is under attack by the government, but that they will continue to fight for the will of the people.
The ongoing protests in Van have received support from various political and civil society figures. The campaign under the hashtag #VanHalkıİradesininYanında, which translates as ‘The people of Van stand by their will’, has gained significant traction on social media. Users have shared images and videos of the protests, using the hashtag as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Van and their democratically elected representatives.
Zeydan has expressed the determination of the protesters, saying: “The people of Van will not give up their will. This decision is null and void. We will not let it pass,” underlining the strength of the resistance and the community’s determination to defend its democratic rights.
