The Hakkari Municipality won by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in the 31 March local elections was usurped by a government-appointed trustee on 3 June. Co-Mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was removed from office by the decision of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, was arrested with a prison sentence of 19 years and 6 months in the scope of a case that had been ongoing for 10 years.

As reactions and actions against the political coup of the government continue, the co-mayor Viyan Tekçe met with members of the press in Istanbul on Sunday.

Viyan Tekçe was accompanied by the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Esengül Demir and Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Istanbul Provincial Organisation executives.

Representatives of labour, peace and democracy forces and non-governmental organisations also took part in the meeting held in Şişli.

DEM Party Assembly member Aylin Hacaloğlu started her speech by commemorating those who lost their lives in the Sivas Massacre and emphasised the importance of unity against the usurpation of people’s will.

Co-Mayor of Hakkari Municipality, Viyan Tekçe, stated that they were not allowed into the municipality building after the usurpation.

Stating that it is meaningful that the usurpation started in Hakkari, Viyan Tekçe said, "The people of Hakkari manifested their will despite all the pressures, but the AKP government did not respect the will of the people and appointed a trustee. The people reacted and continue their struggle."

Viyan Tekçe stated that she was in Istanbul to make her voice heard against anti-democratic practices and to show solidarity with the forces of democracy and said, "We want to fight together with the people of Istanbul and Turkey to put an end to the trustee regime of the government. Municipalities are people's houses and people are claiming their houses."

Viyan Tekçe emphasised that the appointment of trustees meant taking away the right to elect and be elected and said that the AKP government applied double standards in law.

DEM Party Hakkari Municipality Council member Necip Coşkun stated that the meeting aimed to strengthen the joint struggle against the trustee regime. Coşkun said, "Our activities as council members in Hakkari municipality are prevented by the trustee administration."

Hakkari Municipality Council member Evin Tan said that they came to Istanbul to increase solidarity and that their meetings would continue. Tan expressed that they would like to come together with the people of Turkey more often.