Abdullah Zeydan, Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison on 11 February for allegedly aiding a “terrorist organization” – referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Following the politically motivated court decision, the people began a vigil in front of the municipality, lighting fires and dancing in circles till the morning.

Many deputies and co-mayors have also participated in the vigil. Among them were Amed Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Doğan Hatun, dismissed Dersim Municipality co-mayor Birsen Orhan, and Southeastern Anatolia Municipalities Union (GABB) co-chair Siraç Çelik. 

The municipality building was besieged and the people were attacked by the police early this morning before the appointment of a trustee in the place of the democratically elected and unlawfully dismissed co-mayors. 

According to latest reports from the ground, at least 115 people were taken into custody during the brutal crackdown by the police forces. The detainees include journalists and minors.

In a statement on his social media account, Abdullah Zeydan said, “Shameless thieves have usurped the will of the people of Van. The coup plotters will lose and the people will win.”

DEM Party Van Provincial Organization wrote the following on its social media account: “The honorable people of Van stand by their will! We will not allow the trustee, usurpation and plunder. We invite all our people, civil society organizations, political parties and unions to defend democracy and the law against this usurpation.”