At the group meeting on 4 November 2024, in front of the trustee-appointed Mardin (Mêrdîn) Metropolitan Municipality, Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-chair of the People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, declared, “We are ready for continuous struggle against continuous coup.” This statement encapsulated the party’s resolute opposition to the Turkish government’s ongoing imposition of trustees in local governance, a practice they view as an attack on democracy and Kurdish political rights.
Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair alongside Hatimoğulları, echoed this sentiment, urging, “If you want a solution, lift the isolation and remove the trustee.” He condemned the government’s actions as a blatant disregard for the will of the electorate, framing trustee rule as an affront to local governance and a tactic to suppress Kurdish representation.
During the meeting, Hatimoğulları highlighted the broader implications of trustee rule, stating, “The purpose of the trustee is to tell Kurds, ‘You cannot be elected.’” She asserted that such appointments serve to undermine democratic processes and silence the voice of the people. “This regime seeks to eliminate the municipal system by appointing trustees and governors, thereby robbing the electorate of their choices and voices,” she added.
Hatimoğulları also drew a connection between current events and past political purges, referencing the arrests of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş following the political coup of 4 November 2016. She emphasised the persistence of resistance, urging unity among opposition parties and civil society. “This is a day to stand up for democracy, human rights, and justice. We must remember that the fight against oppression requires solidarity and courage,” she stated.
The rally featured contributions from various leftist political leaders, including Labour Party (EMEP) Deputy Sevda Karaca, Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) leader Erkan Baş, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Co-Chair Murat Çepni, Revolutionary Party Deputy Gamze Taşçı, Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Hüseyin Küçükbalaban, the Social Freedom Party (TÖP) spokesperson Juliana Sözen, the Labourist Movement Party (EHP) leader Hakan Öztürk, and Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Co-Chair Mertcan Titiz Feray Mertoğlu. Together, they condemned the erosion of local governance and the political marginalisation of Kurdish citizens, echoing Hatimoğulları’s call for solidarity among all democratic forces in Turkey.
Hatimoğulları called for collective action against trustee rule, stating, “We will continue to oppose trustee appointments, which represent a theft of the people’s will and a blatant disregard for democratic principles.” She urged citizens to remain vigilant and engaged, affirming that their active participation is crucial in the fight against injustice.
“We must not allow the government to silence us. Our voices will be heard, and our rights will be defended,” Hatimoğulları declared. She concluded the meeting by calling on citizens to join their struggle for rights, stating, “Let’s unite against these injustices, for democracy, and for our future.”
The gathering ended with a commitment to continue mobilisation of grassroots efforts, aiming to raise awareness about the impacts of trustee governance on the community and advocating for the restoration of elected representatives to their rightful positions.
