Artists and writers gather in Mardin against the appointment of trustees

Reactions continue in the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, where a trustee has been installed in place of the elected official, just as in Esenyurt, Batman, and Halfeti. This time, the voices came not from politicians, but from intellectuals and artists. A large group of citizens, including writers, artists, former members of parliament, academics, journalists, business people, physicians, and civil society volunteers, traveled to Mardin to visit the mayors who were removed from office and replaced by trustees.

The delegation held a press conference today (December 9) at 13:30 in front of the Mardin Yay Grand Hotel. The statement read: "The appointment of a trustee is not merely an administrative decision. It is the locking of the ballot box, one of the last remaining requirements of a democracy that has been eroded piece by piece. We have come here on behalf of citizens who demand peace, justice, and respect for the national will to say 'We do not consent' to this anti-democratic, arbitrary trustee policy, and to convey our solidarity to those whose will has been usurped. We call on the government to abandon trustee practices and urge all political actors to oppose the politics of trustees without any 'buts' or 'ifs'."

The delegation that went to Mardin is as follows:

Ali İhsan Dinçer-Former President of the Amed Federation / Ayşe Erzan-Academic / Ayten Yıldırım-Dentist / Berrin Sönmez-Academic, Writer / Binnaz Toprak-Academic, 24th Term Member of Parliament / Celal Korkut Yıldırım-Dentist / Ekrem Baran-Religious Scholar / Enes Atila Pay-Architect / Erdoğan Aydın-Writer / Fazıl Alp Akiş-Journalist, Writer, Publishing Editor / Gülayşe Koçak-Writer / Gülseren Onanç-Civil Society Manager / Gürhan Ertür-Radio Programmer / Hacer Ansal-Academic / İslam Özkan-Writer / Mehmet Altan-Academic, Writer / Mehmet Saltoğlu-Politician / Murathan Mungan-Writer / Nesrin Nas-Economist, Former Chair of ANAP / Nilay Akgün-Journalist / Nurcan Baysal-Writer / Nurten Ertuğrul-Financial Advisor, Activist / Orhan Alkaya-Writer, Theater Artist / Orhan Silier-Historian / Oya Baydar-Writer / Ömer Faruk-Writer / Tatyos Bebek-Dentist.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

"Eight years ago, as citizens concerned about the country's direction, the usurpation of our rights, and the damage to our peace and brotherhood, we addressed those governing the country as follows:

We, the co-owners of these lands; Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, Laz, Arabs, Circassians, Roma, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Syriacs, Yazidis, Sunnis, Alevis, believers, and non-believers, are all children of this homeland with our colorful diversity.

Women and men, young and old, we are all conscientious, good people who wish to be happy together. Regardless of our background, views, political tradition, or region, we want to live our beliefs, religion, language, identity, and culture in peace and tranquility.

We do not want our constitutional rights to be obstructed, our political choices to be ignored, those we elected to be removed from office, or our will to be mortgaged through trustee appointments.

We do not want to be turned into enemies. We do not want violence against women and children, harassment, rape, femicide, or discrimination.

To those who govern this country!

You were elected to ensure that we, the citizens, live in peace, security, and tranquility. Do not divide us with words of hatred and malice; do not destroy our faith in justice and the law. Know that we do not consent to this course of action; we object to it.

The intensifying trustee practices have shown how justified our concerns were. Today, those who never let the words 'national will' fall from their lips are telling the voters of the provinces, districts, and regions where trustees have been appointed, 'We do not consider you part of the nation,' by ignoring the will of millions of citizens. With arbitrary practices that damage the sense of justice, they are striking a blow to democracy and internal peace.

We would like to remind you that the appointment of a trustee is not merely an administrative decision. It is the locking of the ballot box, one of the last remaining requirements of a democracy that has been eroded piece by piece.

We have come here on behalf of citizens who demand peace, justice, and respect for the national will to say 'We do not consent' to this anti-democratic, arbitrary trustee policy, and to convey our solidarity to those whose will has been usurped.

We call on the government to abandon trustee practices and urge all political actors to oppose the politics of trustees without any 'buts' or 'ifs'.

We repeat once again here. We do not consent to trustee practices against the will of the people and democracy; we object to them."

News Source: 12punto

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