Ministry of Interior appoints trustees to 3 municipalities
The Ministry of Interior announced the suspension of the mayors of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti. Police teams took security measures in front of Batman Municipality. (AA Photo)
Trustees have been appointed to Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality and Halfeti Municipality in Sanliurfa due to the mayors’ alleged links to the terrorist group PKK/YPG, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released Monday.
The DEM Party mayors, Ahmet Turk of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality and Gulistan Onuk of Batman Municipality have been dismissed from their positions.
Governor Ekrem Canalp was appointed as trustee for Batman Municipality and Mardin Governor Tuncay Akkoyun was appointed as trustee for Mardin Municipality.
The Interior Ministry announced that all three mayors who were dismissed were linked to the terrorist group PKK.
Interior Ministry statement on mayor suspensions
The ministry stated that Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Turk was removed from office following his 10-year prison sentence for membership in an armed terrorist organization, handed down by Ankara’s Second High Criminal Court as part of the Kobani (Ayn al-Arab) Case (case number 2021/6).
Turk is also implicated in an ongoing case for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda (case number 2022/142) and is under investigation by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for similar charges (file number 2024/7685).
The ministry described the move as a preventive measure in line with Articles 127 of the Constitution and 47 of Municipal Law No. 5393. Mardin Governor Tuncay Akkoyun has been appointed as acting mayor, according to Articles 45 and 46 of the same law.
Batman Mayor also suspended
Batman Municipality Mayor Sonuk was also relieved of her duties. The ministry cited her six-year and three-month prison sentence from Batman’s Second High Criminal Court (case number 2023/70) for membership in an armed terrorist organization. Additional investigations are ongoing, including cases involving alleged terrorist propaganda (case number 2023/14816) and continued inquiries into membership in a terrorist group (case number 2024/7894).
Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp has been appointed as acting mayor, according to the provisions of Municipal Law No. 5393.
Halfeti Mayor faces removal following legal proceedings
Halfeti Mayor Mehmet Karayilan was similarly removed from his position following a six-year, three-month, and 15-day prison sentence issued by the Gaziantep Second High Criminal Court (case number 2020/136) for membership in an armed terrorist organization.
The ministry referenced ongoing investigations by the Sanliurfa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office (case number 2024/466) as further justification for his dismissal. Halfeti District Governor Hakan Basoglu has been assigned as acting mayor in accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of Municipal Law No. 5393.
Meetings, demonstrations and events banned for 10 days in Mardin
Governorate of Mardin has announced a 10-day ban on open and closed-door meetings, marches, press statements, sit-in protests and other events across the province.
In a statement released by the governor’s office, it was reported that programs other than the events deemed appropriate by the governor’s and district governor’s offices were banned from Nov. 4 to 14.
Initial reactions from DEM Party and CHP
DEM Party made a statement regarding the appointment of trustees to Mardin, Batman and Halfeti municipalities. “While we were waiting for a hand to be extended for a solution and peace, the will of the people has been extended. While we expect the problems to be solved through dialog and negotiation, the people’s expectations for a solution have been trapped. We will never bow down, we will never back down from the struggle.”
The main opposition the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Spokesperson Deniz Yucel reacted against the appointment of trustees to Mardin, Batman and Halfeti municipalities after Esenyurt Municipality.
Yucel’s statement on social media platform X (Twitter) said, “After the usurpation of Esenyurt Municipality, we started the week with the usurpation of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti Municipalities by the government,” he added, This theft of will is a totalitarian, natural and normal form of behavior of a one-man regime that has not digested and embraced democracy as a way of life.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu made a statement on social media platform X and said, “The government has lost control and is experiencing inconsistent and frivolous swings. Ahmet Turk, who reconciled the families with the Vice President just a week ago, became a terrorist this week.”
In democracies, the continuity of the will of the voters is essential. If an elected official is removed from office, another elected member of the Assembly takes his place. The power to vote belongs only to the voters and cannot be transferred. I am returning from Cairo this evening, where I came for the UN Habitat meeting, and tomorrow we are holding an extraordinary meeting of the Union of Turkish Municipalities Council.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
Chairman of the Republican People’s Party Ozgur Ozel made a statement on social media platform X and said, “This morning, trustees were appointed to two more elected mayors, along with Ahmet Türk, one of the most important names in dialogue in politics that first comes to mind when peace is mentioned in Türkiye.”
Without learning any lessons from what has been happening for days, Without paying any attention to what was being said, Seizing the municipalities that they could not win in the elections, He stoops to dismiss politicians he cannot reform through a coup, We are dealing with a person with a corrupt mind, a bad heart, dirty hands, and a shameless and impudent brazenness.
Chairman of the Republican People’s Party Ozgur Ozel
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