The Hakkari Municipality won by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in the 31 March local elections was usurped by a government-appointed trustee on 3 June. Co-Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was removed from office by the decision of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, was arrested with a prison sentence of 19 years and 6 months in a case that has been ongoing for 10 years.

A rally will be held in Hakkari on 13 June in protest at the usurpation of the municipality. The rally will be participated by masses from the districts, towns and villages of Hakkari under the motto ‘We are marching to Hakkari for democracy’. 

The March for Democracy started in Şemdinli district yesterday and continues in Yüksekova district today.

Participants of the march gathered in front of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) District Organisation in the morning. Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and MPs as well as the residents participated in the march.

Speaking after the march, which was accompanied by slogans such as ‘Jin, jiyan, azadî’ [Woman, Life, Freedom] ‘The municipalities are ours’ and ‘Bijî berxwedana Colemêrg’ [Long live the resistance of Hakkari], DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Hümeyra Armut called for solidarity.

DEM Party Amed (Diyarbakır) MP Serhat Eren stated that the people have been standing against the usurpation of will for 8 days and said, “The will of the people of Hakkari has been usurped. This usurpation is against the Kurdish language, culture, and the right to elect and be elected. This is not a situation that concerns only here. It concerns Turkey's democracy. For this reason, all peoples need to support it. If fascism is defeated in Hakkari, it will be defeated everywhere. We invite all our people and civil society organisations to our rally. Only in this way can we put an end to the trustee policies. This march will continue until the will of the Kurdish people is restored and the trustee usurpation ends. Our resistance will continue everywhere. The will of our people will win. Today is the day. Everyone should do whatever they can.”

 The group then left for Çukurca district where the action will continue.