Skip to main content

Turkey continues to oust Kurdish mayors, replace with trustees

Four mayors have been detained in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast, the latest in ongoing efforts by the government to suppress Kurdish political participation in the country.
Co-leaders of pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Pervin Buldan (L) and Sezai Temelli speak on stage during a meeting in Ankara, on November 20, 2019 - Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will discuss in Ankara a possible withdrawal from parliament in response to the crackdown against it. In recent weeks, several mayors in the southeast have been sacked or detained. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Turkish authorities detained four more popularly elected mayors in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast today, part of an ongoing campaign against the Kurdish-friendly People's Democratic Party (HDP), the third largest party in the Turkish parliament. A fifth mayor was also fired but not detained.

The mayors were hauled away from their homes, stripped of office and replaced with government-appointed trustees, a pattern that has been repeated across the Kurdish-dominated region before and since the nationwide municipal elections in March 2019. 

The mayors are accused of links to militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is waging an armed campaign for autonomy against the Turkish state. The group is classified as terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Two of the jailed mayors were elected in the cities of Igdir and Siirt, while the others were elected in the Siirt province districts of Baykan and Kurtalan.

The arrests raise the number of HDP mayors in prison to at least 21. The government has appointed administrators to 45 of a total of 65 municipalities won by the HDP last year. Human Rights Watch said in a February report that “after their appointment, trustees did not convene the local councils [dominated by HDP councilors], effectively neutering their decision-making role in local government.”

Police entered the family home of Siirt’s co-mayor Berivan Helen Isik by force. Doors were broken and windows shattered, triggering a storm of protest on social media.

The first order of business for her successor was to hang a large portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his office. Ali Fuat Atik, who served as Siirt’s provincial governor until assuming his mayoral duties today, was seen entering the municipality building accompanied by his security detail, who carried various sized photographs of the Turkish president. 

HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar lambasted the dismissals in a news conference today, saying, “This amounts to a rejection of democracy; this amounts to a refusal to recognize the popular will.” Sancar added, “The Kurdish people do not fear pressure, they will not be cowed.” 

The newly formed Deva Parti, led by a former Economy Minister Ali Babacan, joined in the rebukes. In a statement relayed via Twitter, the party called the arrests “arbitrary” and a “usurpation of voters’ will.” 

Babacan is touted as a potential rival for leadership of Turkey’s center right and has signaled that he is willing to accommodate the Kurds' demands for linguistic freedom and more autonomy.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which won Istanbul’s metropolitan municipality with the help of HDP voters, also voiced expressions of sympathy. CHP lawmaker Ozgur Ozel said the fact that the dismissals were continuing indicated that Erdogan had returned to his “normal” state of being "nourished by polarization and othering [of Kurds].”

Hundreds of HDP officials, including lawmakers, have been imprisoned on similar and often thinly evidenced charges of either belonging to or propagandizing on behalf of the PKK. Human Rights Watch examined 18 cases in which courts ordered the pretrial detention of mayors and concluded that “the court’s decisions relied on vague and generalized allegations against the mayors by witnesses, some secret, and details of their political activities, which fail to establish reasonable suspicion of criminal activity that would justify detention.”

Meral Danis Bestas, an HDP lawmaker for Siirt, summed up popular sentiment: “The [Erdogan] regime is bent on crushing Kurds even if they find them in outer space.”

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Turkey Briefing Turkey Briefing

Turkey Briefing

Top Turkey stories in your inbox each week

Trend Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (4th R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

From roads to routers: The future of China-Middle East connectivity

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. - On March 27, Saudi announced a deal with Japan's SoftBank to build the world's biggest solar plant. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

Regulations on Middle East renewable energy industry starting to take shape

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial