AXÎN BAHAR

 

Riha(Urfa)- On Monday, Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs removed the Co-mayors of Mardin, Êlih (Batman) and Riha’ district Xelfetî (Halfeti), three municipalities run by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and appointed trustees in their place.

 

On December 2, 2016, Mustafa Bayram, former Co-mayor of Xelfetî, was detained and sent to prison. On December 23, 2016, the ministry appointed Şeref Albayrak, former district governor, as a trustee in his place. In local elections held in 2019, the AKP nominated Şeref Albayrak as its candidate. Şeref Albayrak was elected as mayor of the district by “transported voters”.

In the local elections held on March 31, 2024, DEM Party mayoral co-candidates Saniye Bayram and Mehmet Karayılan were elected as the Co-mayors of the district.

After receiving the formal mandate, they announced that the municipality had a debt of 460,601,277 Turkish liras, and started investigating the irregularities of former AKP Mayor Şeref Albayrak. On Monday, the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs appointed Hakan Başoğlu, district governor, as a trustee to the municipality.

 Saniye Bayram: We made great efforts to repair the damage they left behind

 Co-mayor Saniye Bayram told NuJINHA that they would hold a vigil in front of the municipal building until the decision was overturned. “We won a victory in the elections but a trustee was appointed in our place. Şeref Albayrak, who was appointed as a trustee in 2016 and won elections in 2019 by transporting voters, and his team exploited the district; they sold all properties of the municipality. They dragged the municipality into debt. For months, we made great efforts to repair the damage they left behind.

‘The issue is not the seat, but the will of the people’

“On March 31, 2024, the residents of the district went to the polls to elect their mayor, to get rid of the mindset of the AKP because they wanted a change. “They (AKP mayoral candidate) transported about 5,000 voters. For us, it was an election but a battle. The counting of votes lasted hours. We did not sleep, eat or drink so that the votes would not be stolen. Despite everything, we were elected as Co-mayors. Now, the issue is not the seat but the will of the people.”

‘We will hold a vigil’

On November 4, 2024, Saniye Bayram and all people in the district learned that a trustee was appointed to the Xelfetî Municipality. “We will hold a vigil in front of the municipal building until the decision is overturned,” said Saniye Bayram.

Dilan Kunt: We see that their dreams are not about democracy

DEM Party Riha (Urfa) MP Dilan Kunt Ayan condemned the removal of the elected mayors. Pointing to the recent statements of the AKP-MHP government regarding a new possible peace process, Dilan Kunt Ayan said, “We see that their dreams are not about democracy. The removal of the elected mayors is not only an attack on the right to vote and to be elected but also an attack on democracy.”