The Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the protest demonstration in front of the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality which was usurped by the government this morning along with the municipalities of Batman province and Halfeti district of Urfa province.

Özel said, “A mindset that does not recognise the will of the people of Mardin, that could not win Mardin through elections, tried to appoint a trustee to Mardin Municipality for the third time. The people of Mardin, not Tayyip Erdoğan, decide who the Mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality is. When I was born, Ahmet Türk was an MP for the CHP. When Tayyip Erdoğan was the provincial chairperson in Istanbul and wanted to be the mayor of Beyoğlu, Ahmet Türk was an MP for the SHP for two terms. Before the DEM Party, he was a member of parliament for parties that were closed down. For 50 years, the people of Mardin, the Kurds, have been electing Ahmet Türk every time a ballot box is put in front of them to represent their will. This will cannot be disputed.”

Stating that he came to Mardin against the usurpation of will, Özel continued: “While Ahmet Türk’s experience and Devrim Demir's youth tried to give Mardin a hand and power, those who forcibly held Mardin for two terms, drained and ruined it, could not think this, ‘This is not the first time we are doing this. When we dismissed the Mayor for the first time, he had received the votes of one out of two Mardin residents. We dismissed him the second time. This time, Mardin voted him into office with 56 percent of the vote. We dismissed him again, and he was elected with 58 percent of the vote. Dear Tayyip Erdoğan, the evil mind that interferes with the will of Turkey; if you call this the will of the people, this is an evil mind, no matter whose mind it is. It has no place in the conscience of the people. In Manisa, my hometown, whoever the people elect becomes the mayor. In Osmaniye, the hometown of Devlet Bahçeli (MHP), people can choose their mayor. In Tayyip Erdoğan's hometown Rize, the people can elect their mayor. But in Ahmet Türk's Mardin, the people elect the mayor, but when the mayor is not elected the way Mr Tayyip wants, they appoint a trustee. Where is equal citizenship?”

Referring to the AKP-MHP government's ‘new process’ discussions, Özel said, “I say that we will struggle for democracy until every Kurd in the Republic of Turkey feels as equal as a citizen of Manisa, Osmaniye and Rize. For this, I have come to say equality, brotherhood and peace.”

Pointing out that the government is resorting to new conspiracies, Özel said, “Wherever you appoint a trustee, it is wrong. The people of Mardin elected Ahmet Türk and Devrim Demir. If you oppose this will, it means that you have never understood the history, brotherhood and ancient civilisation of Mardin. On the one hand, you will seek a solution to something you do not call a problem, and on the other hand, you will appoint a trustee to the municipality of Ahmet Türk, who is the first name that comes to mind when peace is mentioned in Turkey. There is no intellect here. There is no conscience here. There is a game here, but there is no good in that game, neither for this people nor for him. I came to speak out here because we defend verbally. When I saw the news, I said, 'we are where words fail'. I warn you once again, don't let words fail. Words are precious and mean being able to speak. Words are always the solution. There is no solution without words. Mardin has spoken its word in the election. Do not silence that word. Do not persecute the representatives of that word.”

Emphasising that they will fight against these policies until the end, Özel appealed to the government, saying: “You do not take a step forward, on the contrary, you take a step back. Give up this process. Without waiting for a trial, the judiciary appoints trustees before a judgement is finalized and the municipality council is not allowed to elect one of its members because they are all alleged to be terrorists. This understanding that completely marginalises and confronts the people is an understanding that strengthens enmity, not democracy. For this reason, starting from tomorrow, we will visit all parties together with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the President of the Union of Municipalities and our Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor. Whoever I need to meet with, I will use all dialogue channels to the end. Someone wants to make us a part of conflicts and gain power for themselves. We will not surrender to this fear. We advocate for Kurdish and Turkish youth to build their dreams in this country, to dance together, to live fraternally and equally. I salute your will and promise solidarity until the end.”