The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court sentenced Van (Wan) Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Abdullah Zeydan to 3 years and 9 months in prison on charges of "attempting to knowingly and willingly aid the terrorist organization." This ruling paved the way for the appointment of a government trustee to take control of the municipality. Following the ruling, people flooded the municipality building, protesting against the attempt to appoint a trustee. A vigil in front of the municipality continues as an act of resistance.

Van Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Neslihan Şedal spoke to ANF condemning the ruling. She said: "When it comes to Turkey, we have long witnessed how the ruling power prioritizes its own political interests and ambitions. For an extended period, the government has waged an assault against the gains and will of the Kurdish people, sustaining itself through these oppressive policies.  Almost every day, we wake up to new political conspiracies and judicial plots. For years, the will of the Kurdish people has been under attack, facing attempts at seizure and usurpation. In local governance, particularly over the past three terms, the people's democratic right to govern themselves in their own cities has been disregarded. Now, we see yet another attempt to impose the same trustee-based seizure that has been enforced for the past three terms in Van."

The people of Van continue to defend their will

Şedal reacted to the sentencing of Zeydan and criticized the judicial process, stating that laws and legal principles are applied differently when it comes to the Kurdish people and those advocating for democracy, justice, and freedom. 

She said: "Unfortunately, when it comes to the Kurdish people’s right to elect and be elected, the law and judiciary operate differently. In this country, even saying ‘let there be no war’ or calling for peace is considered a crime. The case against our co-mayor, which is now being used as justification for appointing a trustee, is a prime example of this. He was sentenced because he called for peace. Under normal legal circumstances, this case should have resulted in an acquittal. The expert report on the case clearly ruled out the possibility of such an incident even occurring. Furthermore, the testimony of two soldiers in the case actually refutes the claim that our co-mayor obstructed an operation. What is happening here is an attempt to invalidate the will of the Kurdish people through the targeting of our co-mayor. This sentencing is not just a punishment for him, it is a punishment for the Kurdish people as a whole. The judicial system, when it comes to the Kurdish people, has clearly become a colonial legal system.  With this ruling, they are seeking an excuse to appoint a trustee once again. However, the people of Van won the elections through great resistance, and they continue to defend their will.''

Everyone must defend Van’s will

Şedal concluded: "Everyone must raise their voice against this injustice and say 'enough.'  Just as we reclaimed our rights after the unlawful seizure of our mandate through strong solidarity, the only way to protect Van now is through collective resistance. The people's demand is clear and undeniable. These people know the trustee regime all too well. Over the past nine years of trustee rule, our cities have suffered from deepening poverty, rising unemployment, forced migration, and intensified special warfare policies. That is why the people reject the trustee system and continue their struggle on this path. This people will never allow corruption, plunder, and a genocidal mentality to take over their city. We call on everyone to stand with Van and join the ongoing vigil in front of the municipality to defend the will of the people."