In Cizre and İdil districts of Şırnak, as well as Nusaybin, Derik, Savur and Mazıdağı districts of Mardin, city council members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) have again been prevented by the police from entering the city hall to attend the monthly city council meeting. The local politicians of the HDP were denied entry on the grounds that they would disturb the order in the town hall.

The elected representatives of the HDP are not invited to the city council meetings in the municipalities under trustees. Nevertheless, they continue to fight for their rights in order to fulfil the democratic mandate they received in the elections.

The HDP won the local elections last year in 65 cities and districts. To 38 town halls in Northern Kurdistan, trustees have now appointed by the Turkish Ministry of the Interior. Since then, the town halls have been under police siege.