European Parliament condemns dismissals and arrests of mayors in Turkey
The resolution highlights that the provision allowing for such dismissals was introduced under the state of emergency following the 2016 attempted coup and has since been used as a tool against democratic opposition, particularly in Kurdish-majority areas.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The European Parliament has issued a strong condemnation of the Turkish government's recent actions against opposition mayors, calling for the immediate reinstatement of those unlawfully dismissed.
In a resolution adopted by members of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group, the Parliament criticized the Turkish government’s continued use of anti-terror laws to remove elected officials from office. Since the local elections in March 2024, authorities have dismissed mayors from ten municipalities and districts, including Hakkari, Mardin, Batman, and Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, replacing them with government-appointed trustees.
The resolution highlights that the provision allowing for such dismissals was introduced under the state of emergency following the 2016 attempted coup and has since been used as a tool against democratic opposition, particularly in Kurdish-majority areas. The practice, according to European lawmakers, undermines local democracy and violates voters' rights.
The European Parliament has urged the Turkish government to reverse these decisions unless the affected officials are convicted through due legal process. It also calls for an end to the trustee system, in alignment with recommendations from the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission.
Additionally, lawmakers are pressing for potential EU sanctions against Turkish officials who accept appointments as trustees. They have also urged EU leadership to take diplomatic steps, forwarding their resolution to the European Commission, the European Council, and Turkey’s government and parliament.
The motion signals mounting international pressure on Turkey to uphold democratic norms and ensure fair political representation. The European Parliament reaffirms its commitment to monitoring human rights and democratic integrity in Turkey, emphasizing that local governance must reflect the will of the people.