Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Mersin Akdeniz Municipality co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan were taken into custody in raids carried out early this morning, together with city council members Özgür Çağlar, Neslihan Oruç, Yakup Danış and Hikmet Bakırhan.

The police blockaded the municipality building, saying that "a trustee has been appointed". A confidentiality order was imposed on the investigation file and the detainees' access to lawyers was restricted for 24 hours.

People gathered in different neighborhoods in Akdeniz to protest the detentions and the appointment of trustees.

People also began to gather in front of the municipality. DEM Party Mersin Provincial co-chair, Bedriye Kuş, said that they would not allow the appointment of a trustee, calling " on the people of Mersin to protect their will."