16 bar associations in Kurdistan protested the seizure of municipalities and said in a statement: “Trustees are causing serious damage to democracy. This unlawful decision that usurps the will of the people should be reversed as soon as possible.”
16 bar associations in Kurdistan issued a written statement regarding the seizure of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party-run (DEM Party) Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman (Êlih) Municipality and Halfeti (Helfetî) Municipality. The statement called for the unlawful decision that usurps the will of the people to be reversed as soon as possible and for the will of the voters and the rule of law to be respected.
The statement added that the right to vote and be elected, guaranteed by Article 67 of the Constitution, is the most fundamental element of a democratic society. The statement underlined that the appointment of trustees by the AKP-MHP government has turned into an administrative regime in Turkey, and added: "We have learned that the Mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti were dismissed by the Ministry of Interior and trustees were appointed in their places based on Articles 45 and 46 of the Municipality Law. The right to vote and be elected, guaranteed by Article 67 of the Constitution, is the most fundamental element of a democratic society.
The appointment of trustees to replace freely and democratically elected officials is unacceptable under any circumstances. Even if there is a legal problem regarding the mayors in representative positions, the way to address the issue is by resolving it through the election mechanism among the municipal council members themselves. The trustee application, in which constitutional provisions are suspended, the presumption of innocence is violated and the will of the voters is ignored, has turned into an administrative regime in Turkey. The appointment of trustees produces no other result than causing serious damage to Turkey’s democracy, undermining the faith of the voters and weakening trust in the law."
The 16 bar associations "resolutely stress that we are against the trustee regime, and call for an immediate reversal of this unlawful decision that usurps the will of the people, and for respect for the will of the voters and the rule of law."
The following bars signed the statement: "Semsûr Bar Association, Agirî Bar Association, Êlih Bar Association, Çewlêg Bar Association, Bidlîs Bar Association, Dêrsim Bar Association, Amed Bar Association, Colemêrg Bar Association, Îdir Bar Association, Qers Bar Association, Mêrdîn Bar Association, Mûş Bar Association, Sêrt Bar Association, Riha Bar Association, Şirnex Bar Association, Wan Bar Association."
