Mehmet Sıddık Akış of the DEM Party was elected the Mayor of Hakkari province, winning 48.92 percent of the vote in the elections held on 31 March. He was taken into custody in Van yesterday morning and the municipality was blockaded. The Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Akış was suspended from duty and a trustee was appointed in his place.

Masses took to the streets in Hakkari today to protest the usurpation of the municipality. Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, Labour and Freedom Alliance components, CHP delegation and NGP many representatives participated in the protest organised by political parties and civil society organisations. 

During the march towards the municipality, slogans such as ‘We will win by resisting’, ‘We don't want a thief mayor’ and ‘Bijî berxwedana Hekkarî’ [Long live the resistance of Hakkari] were frequently chanted.

Tülay Hatimoğulları and her entourage then marched to Bulvar Street where a sit-in protest was staged. The police attacked the crowd with gas bombs. Young people responded to the police attack with stones in some streets.

After the press statement by the politicians, the police attacked the crowd with water cannons and gas bombs. MPs were directly sprayed with gas. Journalist Nevroz Seyitoğlu fainted due to police violence. 

People resisted in the side streets of the city after the police attack. MPs also dispersed to the side streets and marched from different branches. Protests continue in the neighbourhoods.