After years under the rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and burdened with inherited debt, the Municipality of Muş has drawn attention with its projects and municipal efforts since its transfer to the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). Muş Municipality, won for the first time by the DEM Party and its predecessor movements, has stood out over the past year for its policies on women and children. With initiatives such as a women’s rest center, a women’s condolence house, and a women’s affairs department, the municipality is now preparing to establish a City Women’s Assembly to further strengthen women’s social participation.

In an evaluation of the past year’s work given to Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Muş co-mayor Tuba Sayılğan stated that they have adopted a participatory approach to local governance in close cooperation with the people, and that they prioritize projects focused especially on women and children. She emphasized that winning a city long governed by the ruling party through the co-mayorship model was a historic achievement. Framing it as a significant step toward socializing the co-mayorship system, Sayılğan explained: “The most important place where we can democratize and socialize our co-mayorship model is within local governments. With that in mind, all of our work within the municipality centers around this model, as well as efforts for women’s empowerment and policies for children.”

Water issue will be resolved

Tuba Sayılğan noted that one of the most pressing problems in Muş is the water supply. She said, “We will resolve this issue in the near future. Following our meetings with the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), we have decided that control over the water supply will be fully transferred to the municipality. We are doing everything we can to eliminate this problem entirely, and it will be solved soon. Of course, water is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity. It was women who were most affected by this issue. Although the entire community needs water, it was women who suffered the consequences. This change will lighten their burden. They were forced to wait at fountains and carry the water themselves. The activation of the drinking water facility will benefit women the most.”

Women’s cooperative to be launched

Sayılğan also highlighted a strong demand for employment opportunities from women in the city and said, “Through various social projects, we are working to strengthen women’s employment. As soon as we took over the municipality, we began focusing on women and children. We established a women’s cooperative where only women will be employed. The cooperative will produce tomato paste. We have already applied for a grant to support this initiative. If our project is approved, the entire process, from the female farmer who grows the tomatoes to the factory that processes them, and from the factory to the cooperative, will involve women at every stage. It will create a space for sustainable women’s employment. We are also planning other projects with this same goal. These initiatives will be implemented through both the municipality and the cooperative.”

Protocol signed to combat gender-based violence

Tuba Sayılğan emphasized that the rate of violence against women in Muş is alarmingly high. She recalled that a protocol had been signed with the Muş Bar Association to address this issue: “We signed and implemented a protocol to ensure that women who experience violence can access legal rights and receive counseling services. In addition, as the municipality, we carried out various activities and workshops against violence by bringing together both our municipal staff and the wider community.” Sayılğan also pointed out the lack of dedicated spaces where women in Muş can seek help or express their concerns. She said, “There is no woman-specific center in the city where women can speak about their problems or access support. That’s why we have completed the infrastructure for our Women’s Solidarity Center. We will implement this project as soon as possible. Women will be able to access legal and psychological support there, as well as other services depending on their needs.”

Activities planned for youth

Tuba Sayılğan stated that new projects and activities are also being planned for young people and children. She noted that they will continue to organize concerts and seminars for youth. Recalling a major concert held on 15 May to celebrate Kurdish Language Day, which brought together thousands of young people, Sayılğan said: “Muş has long been a place where both youth and women have been subjected to assimilation by the system. As the municipality, we carried out a series of events as part of the Language Day and organized a festival. We once again witnessed how deeply Kurdish youth long for activities in their own language. Our efforts to preserve and promote the Kurdish people’s language, culture, and art will certainly continue. We will keep creating these spaces and expanding our activities.”

City Women’s Assembly to be established

Tuba Sayılğan noted that one of the biggest problems in the city is that women have not been able to participate in local decision-making processes. She said that this situation has begun to change, at least in part. Sayılğan explained: “For years, municipal work was carried out entirely by male directors and male employees. Both in the field and within the municipality, women were always assigned to supportive roles. Since we took office, we have prioritized the presence of women not only in fieldwork but also within the municipality’s internal operations. We have made sure that women, including technical staff, are actively included in decision-making processes. While we have managed to change this within the municipality, the same issue still exists in the field. To address this, we have decided to establish a City Women’s Assembly after visiting all relevant institutions. Through this assembly, we will create a space where all women in the city can participate, express their concerns freely, and find collective solutions to the problems they face. With the founding of this assembly, we aim to struggle not only for women’s rights in the city but also for broader solutions to the city’s challenges.”