René Revol, mayor of the Grabels Commune in Montpellier region of France, released a statement about the AKP regime’s seizure of HDP-run municipalities in Amed, Mardin and Van on August 19 through the removal of elected co-mayors and appointment of trustees in their place.

Recalling that all the three municipalities had been won by the HDP with over 50 percent of the vote, Revol also noted that more than 400 members and activists of the HDP were arrested in tandem with the operations against the municipalities.

Revol said; “While the HDP advocates the democratic rights of all circles including Kurds, Armenians, Alevites and Yazidis, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is carrying out an absolute civil coup.”

Revol in the name of Grabels City Council expressed solidarity with the Kurdish people and called for participation in demonstrations to condemn the attacks against democracy.

Montataire Commune City Council Mayor and Oise Provincial Council member Jean-Pierre Bosino, Vitry-sur-Seine’s Mayor Jean-Claude Kennedy, Champigny-Sur-Marne’s Mayor Christian Fautré, Villiers-le-Bel’s Mayor Jean-Louis Marsac and Rennes Mayor Nathalie Appéré had also condemned the usurpation of HDP municipalities, declared support for the HDP and called on the French government to take action.