Nineteen bar associations, including those in Amed and Istanbul, issued a joint statement condemning the appointment of a trustee to Kağızman (Qaxizman) Municipality in Kars (Qers). 

The bar associations expressed their deep concern over the ongoing process, in which democracy, the rule of law, and the will of the people are being disregarded. They said: "Following the sentencing of Kağızman Municipality co-mayor Mehmet Alkan to six years and three months in prison, the appointment of a trustee to the municipality before the legal process was finalized has heightened our concerns that the judiciary has become politicized and is being used as a tool."

"Fundamental principles are being violated more and more each day" 

The statement continued: "In recent years, concerns have been growing that judicial decisions in Turkey are made based on political motives and that the law is being used as a tool for political pressure. The removal of elected mayors while their legal proceedings are still ongoing and the appointment of trustees in their place violate the principle of the presumption of innocence and disregard the will of the people. The fact that officials elected by the people can only be replaced through the people’s will is one of the fundamental principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Unfortunately, this principle is being violated more and more each day in Turkey."

"A serious intervention in people's choices" 

The statement continued: "The independence and impartiality of the judiciary are indispensable elements of a democratic society. However, the increasing political pressures on local governments in recent times undermine the principle of legal security and deeply wound the public conscience. The appointment of a trustee to Kağızman Municipality is a manifestation of this approach, constituting a serious intervention in the functioning of local governments and the democratic choices of the people. 

As bar associations, we publicly declare that we will never give up defending the rule of law, the right to a fair trial, and the protection of democratic will. We call on the authorities to act responsibly to free the judiciary from political interference, protect democratic values, and respect the will of the people.”

The bar associations that issued the joint statement are as follows: Adiyaman Bar Association, Antalya Bar Association, Agrî Bar Association, Antep Bar Association, Bingöl Bar Association, Bitlis Bar Association, Amed Bar Association, Batman Bar Association, HakkariBar Association, Igdir Bar Association, Izmir Bar Association, Istanbul Bar Association, Kars Bar Association, Muş Bar Association, Siirt Bar Association, Urfa Bar Association, Şirnak Bar Association, Dersim Bar Association, Van Bar Association.