The deposed co-mayors of Mardin, Ahmet Türk and Devrim Demir, municipal council members and the public gathered at the entrance of İstasyon neighbourhood and marched to the municipality building behind a banner reading ‘Popular resistance against the trustee coup’.

Members of the municipal council attempted to hold their weekly meeting in the municipality building but were prevented by the riot police deployed in front of the municipality that is surrounded with barricades.

The municipal council meeting was therewith held with the participation of co-mayors, councilors and citizens.

Co-mayor Devrim Demir, who made the opening speech in front of the barricades set up around the municipality building, said: “They do not allow the Council to do its work. The issue is not only the municipality and the people. they are not letting our councilors in for a meeting which was planned 10 days ago. We expose their lawlessness and condemn their actions once again. The President says that they are not against those elected. He says that there are unknown people in the municipality. We are here, our identity is clear. Everyone here knows who we are and what we are. Who is building these barricades here? What do they serve, what are they here for? Don't lie to the people, first tell them who you are. Who are you? Once again, we strongly condemn this situation. They are not letting us in, but the streets and neighbourhoods are ours. This Council will continue to work until another election. Our members will continue to fulfil their duties.”

Co-Mayor Ahmet Türk stated that the will of the people has been usurped once again and drew attention to the fact that there was no dismissal decision regarding the municipal council. Türk said, “Despite this, the entrances of our municipality were blocked with police barricades and our Council members were not allowed to enter in. Apparently, this right has also been usurped.

 In fact, it is a crime not to hold a meeting of the Council without an official decision. Those who prevented it here today are clearly committing a crime. Tomorrow the councils of our districts will convene. Some of those members are members of the Metropolitan Council, all of them come from the districts. Now they will do their duties in the districts, but they will not be allowed to enter the municipality here. This is lawlessness. Of course, we will not remain silent against this lawlessness. We will show our reaction and resistance.”

Ahmet Türk referred to the statement by the Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, who said earlier today that the appointment of trustees was a temporary assignment and a result of the investigations against the mayors of the affected municipalities. He stated that “It is a temporary suspension from office and a temporary assignment”, adding that the Municipal Council elects a new mayor in the event of a finalised judgement against the elected one.

Citing the minister’s remark ‘If a mayor is sentenced, his duty ends as a result of the investigation, and if he is not sentenced, he will be reinstated as a result of the investigation’, Türk said, “If you are usurping our will for an investigation and removing us from co-mayorship, then I would like to express this very clearly. Let the Municipal Council elect the mayor from within. In that case, I will resign tomorrow. I am ready to resign, as long as the will of the people is not usurped. If they are not lying, they are welcome to do so.”

Noting that they endeavoured to represent the will of the people, Türk said that the will of the people was not respected. Türk also responded to President Tayyip Erdoğan's remark “the nondescript’ and said the following: “We know where we come from. We came from the people. I served as an MP for 6 terms by the will of the people, I served as the chairman of the parliament, and I served as the co-mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality for 3 terms by the will of the people. It is clear what I am, but it is not clear what you are. Know this very well. Words that do not befit a President should be condemned by the whole society. This must be responded to. If the President of this country approaches with an understanding that recklessly marginalises the people and disregards the will of the people, we will never, ever respect such a president.”