On 15 May, the AKP/MHP government seized the municipalities of Iğdır, Siirt, Kurtalan, Baykan and Altınova, detained the legitimately elected municipal co-mayors and replaced them by State-appointed trustees.

The number of HDP-run municipalities seized are now 45. HDP Batman MP Necdet Ipekyüz talked with ANF about the current political situation.

Ipekyüz said that the AKP government has turned the coronavirus pandemic into an opportunity to continue with its policy of seizing the HDP-run municipalities.

Reminding that the fascist AKP/MHP government doesn't lose any opportunity to show its hostility towards the Kurdish people, Ipekyüz added: "In 2016, within the framework of the 'settling plan', 102 municipalities were seized. Now 45 municipalities have been seized and taken over by trustees."

The trustees, said the Batman MP "are the new tool of persecution, lawlessness and power. This government is the product of a coup. Coup plotters are enemies of democracy, popular will and the people of Kurdistan. The people of Kurdistan have always protected their will and dignity. For how many years now, no attack has been able to break the will of the people of Kurdistan. No power can stand before the will of the people. People are invincible."

Ipekyüz underlined that the HDP municipalities in Kurdistan are working hard to counter the coronavirus pandemic and help the people. "For example, the municipality of Batman was providing a unique service to the public while we were in office. After the municipality was seized, the number of people suffering from the coronavirus increased gradually."

Ipekyüz added that the trustees are the most dangerous virus and pointed out that leaflets in Kurdish were distributed in many countries around the world to inform the public against the coronavirus. "It was no coincidence - he said - that the municipalities were seized on 15 May, Kurdish Language Day."

Ipekyüz continued: "The trustees are the virus itself. They have usurped the right and will of hundreds of thousands of people. The extortion of the municipalities is a coup. We saw what they did to prevent the public from participating to our congress. However, the Kurdish people and HDP volunteers stood firm and resisted, no matter the obstacles put in front of them. They shook Ankara with their enthusiasm."

Saying that the HDP will resist to all pressures, Ipekyüz ended his speech with the following words: "We will continue to struggle until our co-mayors return to their posts. This government will never succeed in Kurdistan. Community organizations, solidarity institutions, writers, artists and pro-democracy forces should also make their voices heard against this government and say that this is enough."