Authoritarianism in Turkey is tightening with each passing day. Alongside increasing arrests and detentions of politicians and journalists, trustees are being appointed to municipalities. As the Imralı talks continue, another municipality governed by the Democratic Party (DEM) has been taken over by a trustee.
Alağaş, who faced charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” during her journalism career, was convicted by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. The sentencing has sparked controversy, with critics pointing to the politically motivated nature of the charges and the growing trend of government intervention in local governance.
Shortly after Alağaş’s sentencing, police forces surrounded Siirt’s municipal building and informed the co-mayors of the trustee appointment. The move was followed by the hoisting of Turkish flags on the municipal building, marking the formal takeover of the local government. As police continued their presence, citizens gathered outside the building in protest, signaling widespread dissatisfaction with the recent developments.
The trustee appointment comes amid an intensifying crackdown on opposition figures, particularly in Kurdish-majority regions, where authorities have increasingly targeted local governments run by pro-Kurdish parties. The intervention also coincides with ongoing Imralı talks, adding a further layer of complexity to the political situation in Turkey.
This development is part of a broader trend toward authoritarianism in Turkey, where the government has been accused of suppressing dissent and stifling political opposition. The increasing number of trustee appointments, alongside rising arrests and detentions of politicians and journalists, has sparked concerns both domestically and internationally regarding the erosion of democratic freedoms.
The 10-day ban on public gatherings in Siirt, issued earlier this week, further highlights the government’s efforts to curb public protests and control the political narrative. The ban, which restricts all forms of public assembly, including marches, press statements, and protests, is seen as another step in suppressing free speech and political opposition.
As tensions continue to rise in Siirt and across Turkey, citizens and political activists are increasingly concerned about the long-term implications for civil liberties and the country’s democratic institutions. The crackdown on local governments, particularly those controlled by opposition parties, signals a troubling shift toward centralization of power and a diminishing space for political pluralism.
