The municipalities of Batman, Mardin and Halfeti, which were won by the DEM Party in the local elections of 31 March this year, were usurped on 4 November through the removal of the democratically elected co-mayors by the Ministry of Interior and appointment of trustees in their places.

Presidents and board members of Muş, Urfa, Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Siirt, Van, Hakkari, Ağrı, Adıyaman and Bitlis bar associations made a statement in front of Batman Courthouse in protest at the usurpation of the municipalities in the Kurdish region.

Speaking here, Batman Bar Association President Hamit Çakan said, “The will of the voters is being mortgaged,” noting that many people were subjected to police violence during the protests.

Muş Bar Association President Kadir Karaçelik, who is the term spokesperson of the regional bar associations, emphasised that the people of the city made their choice on 31 March. “A week ago, we were again confronted with a situation that deepened our concerns, destroyed our hopes and reinforced our disbelief in justice. However, there was no question of the legitimacy of the elections on 31 March when elections were held under equal conditions and reflected the will of the people in a democratic environment. There can be nothing more legitimate than this.”

Karaçelik continued: “This was first a practice, then it turned into an administrative regime.  The trustee practice may be lawful, but it has no legal and social legitimacy. We call for the abandonment of this unlawful practice, which does nothing but harm democracy, traumatise people and strain the city, and harm civil politics.”

Karaçelik also appealed to the judiciary, saying: “Judicial authorities should make savings by observing the law. We express our opposition to the instrumentalisation of the judiciary.” Karaçelik also denounced the police violence during the protests against the trustees.

The lawyers then visited Gülistan Sönük and Yeşil Işık, co-mayors of Batman Municipality, who were removed from office and replaced by a trustee.