The Interior Ministry has appointed trustees in Mardin, Batman and Urfa’s Halfeti district. It was only on 25 October 2024 that the Kurdish mayor of İstanbul’s Esenyurt district, Turkey’s largest district, was removed from office and imprisoned. Shortly after the local elections, a trustee already been appointed in Hakkari.
Turkey is carrying out these measures without any consequences. In particular, the European Union and the European institutions, above all the Council of Europe, tolerate this behaviour. The available options for sanctions do not apply in the context of Turkey.
This is in favour of Turkey’s anti-democratic and anti-Kurdish policy. This is absolutely unacceptable. Unambiguous answers and sanctions are needed in the spirit of democracy, the rule of law and respect for the will of the voters.
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EU Turkey Civic Commission
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