content tagged with Pro-Kurdish mayors removed from office

Two mayors removed in Kurdish-populated Dersim city, sparking protests

Two mayors removed in Kurdish-populated Dersim city, sparking protests

Hundreds of people protesting the takeover of the municipalities clash with the police.

22 November 2024

Detainees forced to listen to Turkish nationalist song during trustee protests, says rights group

Detainees forced to listen to Turkish nationalist song during trustee protests, says rights group

Hundreds of people have been detained in protests against the government’s takeover of pro-Kurdish municipalities in early November.

22 November 2024

Two opposition mayors sentenced to prison on ‘terror’ charges in Dersim

Two opposition mayors sentenced to prison on ‘terror’ charges in Dersim

The mayors may be suspended from office and replaced with trustees following the conviction.

20 November 2024

Mistreatment at Batman protests following pro-Kurdish mayor’s removal

Mistreatment at Batman protests following pro-Kurdish mayor’s removal

Dozens of people have been detained over the past week during the protests.

11 November 2024

Erdoğan backs takeover of opposition municipalities, eyes cooperation with Trump on Syrian Kurds

Erdoğan backs takeover of opposition municipalities, eyes cooperation with Trump on Syrian Kurds

"Being elected does not give anyone the right to walk hand in hand with terrorism," the president has said.

8 November 2024

DEM co-leader faces investigation over critical remarks on municipal takeovers

DEM co-leader faces investigation over critical remarks on municipal takeovers

Tuncer Bakırhan had referenced Kurdish insurgencies in the early years of the republic and in the insurgency led by the PKK in a speech criticizing the replacement of DEM mayors.

8 November 2024

‘Trustee policies are degrading the ruling power, not the Kurdish movement’

‘Trustee policies are degrading the ruling power, not the Kurdish movement’

Kurdish women politicians reflect on the takeover of municipalities in Kurdish cities.

7 November 2024 Evrim Deniz

Gallery: Dozens detained in ‘trustee’ protests amid violent police response

Gallery: Dozens detained in ‘trustee’ protests amid violent police response

Protests continued throughout the night in Batman and Mardin, as well as İstanbul.

5 November 2024

Turkey’s ruling party signals more municipal takeovers

Turkey’s ruling party signals more municipal takeovers

Three mayors from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party were replaced with government-appointed trustees today.

4 November 2024

Tuğçe Yılmaz

‘You can’t discuss peace while appointing trustees,” says dismissed Kurdish mayor

‘You can’t discuss peace while appointing trustees,” says dismissed Kurdish mayor

Co-mayor Saniye Bayram emphasized Halfeti’s symbolic importance despite being the smallest district in Urfa.

4 November 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Protests in Kurdish cities after removal of mayors

Protests in Kurdish cities after removal of mayors

DEM Party supporters protested the replacemrnt of the mayors in Batman, Mardin and Urfa.

4 November 2024 Evrim Deniz

Government removes pro-Kurdish mayors in Mardin, Batman, Urfa

Government removes pro-Kurdish mayors in Mardin, Batman, Urfa

The move follows the recent replacement of an İstanbul district mayor elected through CHP-DEM cooperation. The pro-Kurdish DEM has now lost three of the 11 cities it won in the March elections.

4 November 2024