Van’s Dismissed Mayor Calls His Removal as a ‘Coup,’ Pledges Legal Challenge
Abdullah Zeydan criticized the appointment of a state trustee in his place, stressing that his election reflected the democratic choice of over 1.2 million citizens.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Abdullah Zeydan, the recently elected Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, has strongly condemned his removal from office by the Turkish government, calling it a “political coup” against the will of the people.
In a statement issued on Saturday, February 15, Zeydan criticized the appointment of a state trustee in his place, stressing that his election reflected the democratic choice of over 1.2 million citizens.
“The will of the people has been overturned. I was elected through a democratic process, and no one can change this fact,” Zeydan declared.
He further accused the Turkish authorities of undermining constitutional principles, stating, “This is not just a personal attack; it is an assault on democracy itself.”
Legal and Political Ramifications
Zeydan pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has previously condemned the Turkish government’s practice of removing elected Kurdish officials for political reasons.
“The court has made it clear that our arrests and removals are politically motivated. The government is violating the constitution, and its actions must be reversed,” he asserted.
He also issued a warning, stating that those responsible for these decisions would one day be held accountable.
“The time will come when AK Party officials and state-appointed trustees will have to answer for their actions,” Zeydan added.
A Pattern of Political Disqualifications
Zeydan was removed from office by the Turkish Ministry of Interior just days after his election and replaced by Van’s governor, Ozan Balci.
The decision sparked widespread protests in Van, with thousands taking to the streets, demanding Zeydan’s reinstatement and denouncing what they viewed as a violation of electoral integrity.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) condemned the move, calling it an “undemocratic intervention” and a continuation of Ankara’s policy of sidelining elected Kurdish officials.
International Concerns
The European Parliament joined the chorus of criticism, describing the removal of Zeydan and other Kurdish mayors as “illegal” and politically motivated.
Western human rights organizations have also expressed concerns over the Turkish government’s increasing control over municipal governance in Kurdish-majority areas.
Since 2016, Turkey has dismissed or arrested dozens of pro-Kurdish mayors, often replacing them with state-appointed trustees.
Critics argue that these actions undermine local governance and erode trust in democratic institutions.
The dismissal of Abdullah Zeydan adds to the ongoing tensions between the Turkish state and Kurdish political movements, raising further questions about the future of political representation in Kurdish-majority regions of Turkey.