P10_TA(2025)0016 – Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye – European Parliament resolution of 13 February 2025 on the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye (2025/2546(RSP))
Date: 2025-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Türkiye, accession criteria, arrest, democracy, human rights, political opposition, political prisoner, representative of local or regional authority, rule of law, unfair dismissal








C_202502248EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/2248


29.4.2025






P10_TA(2025)0016

Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye


European Parliament resolution of 13 February 2025 on the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye (2025/2546(RSP))

(C/2025/2248)



The European Parliament,







—


having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas Türkiye is expected, as a candidate country, to align with the EU acquis in all areas, including adherence to the rule of law and fundamental rights, as outlined in the Copenhagen criteria; whereas the accession process has been stalled since 2018 due to a continued deterioration in democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law;










B.


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










C.


whereas Türkiye’s practice of replacing democratically elected mayors with government-appointed trustees instead of a member of the municipal council is a blatant attack on the most basic principles of local democracy, predominantly targeting Kurdish regions;










D.


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 trustees; whereas this practice has been enabled by legal amendments introduced through an emergency decree in 2016;










E.


whereas several mayors, including DEM mayors Mehmet Sıddık Akış (Hakkâri) and Abdullah Zeydan (Van), have been arrested or convicted on the basis of vague and unsubstantiated terrorism-related allegations; whereas Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, is facing multiple legal challenges and possible political disqualification;











1.


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;










2.


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










3.


Expresses deep concern over the impact of these actions on local governance, particularly in Kurdish-majority areas; underlines the need to resume the Kurdish peace process;










4.


Calls for judicial reforms to abolish the trustee system, in line with the recommendation by the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission, and restore the independence of the judiciary;










5.


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










6.


Recalls that financial assistance to Türkiye under the IPA III and the NDICI is conditional upon respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights, and that sufficient funding needs to be allocated to civil society;










7.


Reaffirms the EU’s commitment to supporting democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Türkiye, and calls for the EU to closely monitor the situation and take the necessary diplomatic measures; calls on the VP/HR to consider imposing restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Turkish officials assuming the role of trustee and those appointing them;










8.


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






ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/2248/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)