Attempted attack on Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay: 'Bandit Hatice'

Gençay was subjected to an attempted attack in her office.Following the attack, a written statement issued by the Didim Municipalitystatedthat the attack was carried out by Nature Protection Association President Bilal Süren, andit was noted that the legalprocess has begun.was initiated.

Following the attack, a written statement was issued by the Didim Municipality regarding the incident.

Thestatement noted that the attack occurred due to an eviction order concerning the area belonging to the Didim Association for the Protection of Animals and Nature,and wasit was stated that it was carried out and the evacuation process wasexplained in detail.

In the statement made by the municipality, the followingstatements were included:

“On January 15, 2026, inside our municipality,an attemptto be attempted verbal and physical attackattemptregardingin order to inform our public accurately about theoa statement became necessary. Regarding the area located at 1109 Street, Olimpiyat Avenue, Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, which operates on an area of approximately 1,800 square metersand belongs to the Didim Animaland Nature Protection Association; on October 24, 2025, the Didim DistrictAgricultureand Forestry Directorateandthe Aydby the Nature Conservation and National Parks Branch Directorate. An inspection was carried out. During the inspection, it was determined that while animal welfare associations may establish shelters, the association in question was operating without the necessary authorization. The inspection confirmed that animal welfare associations could create living spaces, but the association in question was operating withoutthat the area did not meet these criteria and therefore, for the health, safety, and welfare of our dear animal friends, it was decided to move them to a suitable area, and a report was drawn up stating that the area in question must be evacuated. This inspection report was also signed by the association president. This inspection report was also signed by the association president.

“OFFER OF AID AND SUPPORT WAS MADE TO THE ASSOCIATION”

In order to inform the public accurately, we would like to specifically state that the association in questiondoes not have any ownership,allocation, or usagepermit for the area in question. The area is designated as a green space in the zoning plans and is being occupied and used without authorization by the association. Despite a long time having passed since the evictionprocess,theobligation has not been fulfilled.is. Following this, our municipality, without resorting to any coercivemeasures, aimed to ensure our dear animal friends could live in a healthy, safe, and suitableenvironment, andwith the goal ofenabling them to continue their lives, offered assistance and support to the association on December 23, 2025. This offer was accepted by the association president. In this context, our municipal teams assisted in the dismantlingof the association's materials.provided assistance, and supported the relocation process to the arealocated at Denizköy Neighborhood, block 3028, parcel 118, which wasproposed by theassociation president.She provided support.

“HE USEDTHREATENING LANGUAGE”

However, despite our municipality's all well-intentioned efforts and cooperative approach, the association president, Bilal Süren, attempted to attack our mayor in her office. On January 15, 2026, at approximately 15:15During the incident, the individual who came to the mayoral office entered the secretariat area and shouted, 'Where is Hatice?' and despite being told that our mayor was in a meeting, he attempted to force his way intothe office. Whilesecurity personnel were trying to preventhis unauthorized entry,he kicked the door, and while being removed from the building, continuedwhile being removed, used insulting expressions such as 'Bandit Hatice' and threats such as 'I will not let you sit in that seat'contained.

The individual in question , who had previously carried out attacks on our municipality's cameras,has made baseless allegations and untruths regarding our mayor and our institutionit is known that hemakes posts that do not reflect the truth, and continues these actions under the name of the association tooccupy and misleadthe public. He isknown to be attempting this.

“EVIDENCE WILL BE SHAREDWITH THE PUBLIC”

All footage, documents, and camerarecords regarding the incidenthave been handed over tolaw enforcement authorities,and the legalprocess hashas been initiated. It is unacceptable to carry personal issues into the public sphere by hiding behind an association identity and attempting to create a perception throughthis method. Our municipality will exercise its legal rights to the fullest extent against individuals and media outlets that publish reports that do not reflect the truth,bothregarding this attempted attack and through deliberate and biased reporting. Evidencerelated to theprocess will be shared with the public within the legal framework.will be carried out.

Our municipality, as it hasbeen until today,will continue to work in good faith for the health, safetyand well-being of our dear animal friends,and to prioritize the public interestin our work.will continue to cooperate with civil society organizationsthat truly look out for the public interest.However, those who attempt tocreate public opinion by usingthe name of an associationto pursue their personalagendas will not be tolerated.”