Following a midnight order from Turkish Ministry of Interior, the metropolitan municipalities of Amed (Diyarbakır), Van and Mardin, run by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), were seized by the AKP regime with through replacement of the elected mayors with governors of the mentioned cities on August 19.

Following the suspension of the mayors, police forces laid a siege on the three municipalities and launched a crackdown against HDP members and people who took to the streets in protest at the unlawful seizure of their municipalities. Protests continue in the form of Democracy Vigil in the three and many other cities to reclaim the municipalities since.

Speaking at today’s rally in Van, HDP MP Murat Sarısaç called for a joint fight against trustees: "Our resistance is the resistance of all who are committed to universal democratic principles. If you love Turkey, you must resist the appointment of trustees."

The Democracy Vigil in Mardin was attended by HDP deputies Ebru Günay and Pero Dündar, among others. Surrounded by the police, the activists sang songs in front of the HDP headquarters and demanded the reinstatement of suspended mayor Ahmet Türk.

Hundreds of people gathered in Amed to protest the trustee on the Lise Street, near the town hall. Former mayor of Amed, Mehdi Zana spoke at the vigil and said: "The 44-day resistance has brought me here. Essential to us are the achievements of the Kurds. We must all stand together against attacks on these achievements."