On the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

B100212/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

(2025/2546(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Türkiye,

– having regard to the recommendations of the Venice Commission and Türkiye’s commitment to the European Charter of Local Self-Government,

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR),

– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Türkiye is expected, as a candidate country, to uphold the highest standards of democracy, including respect for human rights, the rule of law, credible elections, fundamental freedoms, and the universal right to a fair trial and the accession process is stalled since 2018 due to the continued deterioration of these;

whereas Türkiye has systematically misused counterterrorism laws to target elected officials, opposition politicians, and human rights defenders, as noted by the UN Special Rapporteur and the Venice Commission;

whereas Türkiye’s longstanding practice of replacing democratically elected mayors with government-appointed trustees instead of a member of the municipal council is rooted in discriminatory anti-Kurdish policies and has severely undermined local democracy;

whereas since the 2024 local elections, the Interior Ministry has dismissed eight mayors from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and two from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), replacing them with Ankara-appointed provincial and district governors;

whereas several of these mayors, including DEM mayors Mehmet Sıddık Akış (Hakkari) and Abdullah Zeydan (Van), as well as CHP mayor Hasan Akgün (Büyükçekmece), have been arrested based on vague and unsubstantiated terrorism-related allegations;

whereas this practice is enabled by legal amendments introduced via emergency decree in 2016, which allow mayors to be removed without a final court conviction;

whereas state-appointed trustee mayors in the southeast region have previously engaged in policies that erase Kurdish cultural identity;

Condemns the arbitrary dismissal and imprisonment of democratically elected mayors and their replacement by unelected government trustees, a practice that violates democratic principles and disenfranchises millions of voters;

Calls for the immediate release of imprisoned mayors, and for the reinstatement of all dismissed mayors unless there is credible, court-verified evidence of wrongdoing, in line with international legal standards;

Urges Türkiye to cease the politically motivated misuse of counterterrorism laws against opposition politicians, human rights defenders, and journalists, including Sener Levent and Ali Kismir;

Expresses deep concern over the impact of these actions on local governance, particularly in Kurdish-majority areas;

Calls for judicial reforms to restore the independence of the judiciary, ensure fair trial rights, and prevent political interference in legal proceedings;

Urges Türkiye to align its policies with the ECHR and fully implement all ECtHR rulings, in line with Article 46, including cases involving political imprisonment;

Reaffirms the EU’s commitment to supporting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Türkiye, and calls on EU institutions and Member States to closely monitor the situation and take necessary diplomatic measures;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, and the Turkish authorities.