On Friday, November 22nd, the AKP-MHP regime usurped the municipality of Dersim under the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) by appointing a trustee in the place of the democratically elected co-mayors, Cevdet Konak and Birsen Orhan. Both mayors were then removed from office and replaced by a trustee, Tunceli Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu, following an instruction from the Ministry of Interior.

Masses gathered in the city center today and protested the usurpation of the municipality. As protests continued, Co-Mayor Birsen Orhan was intercepted by the police while on her way home on Sanat Street in the city centre. The police attempted to detain Orhan on the pretext of taking her statement.

People holding a vigil at the Seyit Rıza Square moved to Sanat Street and resisted the police who were then forced to set the co-mayor free.

Afterwards, the people marched again to Seyit Rıza Square with slogans and applause, chanting the slogans ‘Dersim, claim your honour’ and ‘Kurdistan will be the grave of fascism’.

Co-mayor Birsen Orhan also came to Seyit Rıza Square and said, “The police summoned me to testify. If they happen to detain me, you should continue the struggle.”

According to reports, Birsen Orhan will give a statement to the police together with her lawyer. 

The people's vigil in Seyit Rıza Square continues.