Protests erupted in the southern province of Mersin following the usurpation of Akdeniz District Municipality ruled by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and imprisonment of the democratically elected co-mayors.

Akdeniz Municipality co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan, and City Council members Özgür Çağlar, Neslihan Oruç, Yakup Danış and Hikmet Bakırhan, were taken into custody in Mersin on 10 January. On 13 January, both co-mayors, as well as Özgür Çağlar, Neslihan Oruç Danış and Hikmet Bakırhan were remanded in custody on terror charges, for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The district governor, Zeyit Şener, was appointed trustee to replace the co-mayors.

Masses took to the streets in Mersin for days in protest at the usurpation of the Akdeniz Municipality and imprisonment of the co-mayors. A number of people were taken into custody during violent crackdown by the police.

7 of the detainees were remanded in custody on the allegation of “engaging in actions and activities on behalf of an illegal organization without being its members”.