Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Emin Ay attended a press statement held outside the municipal building concerning the attempted attack on the Bismil Municipality administration on 1 October. Alongside Co-Mayor Ay, the statement was attended by Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Diyarbakır Provincial Co-Chairs Fatime Üzül Levent and Yunus Muratakan, DBP Diyarbakır Provincial Co-Chair Ahmet Doğan, DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Sevilay Çelenk, Bismil Municipality Co-Mayors Mizgin Ekin and Güven Tanrıkulu, district municipality co-mayors, council members, municipal staff and residents.

Speaking at the statement, DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Sevilay Çelenk said they were deeply saddened by what had happened and stressed that no conduct carrying the potential for violence would be tolerated within the party or municipal culture. Saying they would not allow such attacks to take place, Çelenk said, “All necessary measures will be taken, all necessary discussions will be held, and we will not come together again for a reason like this.”

Co-Mayor Ay Condemns Attempted Attack

Condemning the attempted attack, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Emin Ay said the incident could not be treated as an ordinary or isolated event. Stressing that the attack was directly aimed at the will of the people of Bismil and democratic politics, Co-Mayor Ay said:

“We have never accepted this and we never will. We will never allow such attitudes to go unchecked. We will never allow such attacks against our colleague, the will of our people and the people’s right to govern themselves. Let everyone be very clear: this attack was directed at democratic politics. We do not see this as an ordinary or isolated incident. Our response will be through our work and democratic politics. In the face of this intimidation, our response will be to stand up for peace.”

‘This Cannot Be Treated as an Isolated Incident’

Reminding that local government is the foundation of democracy, Co-Mayor Ay said that peace cannot be established where there is no democracy and that there can be no freedom where there is no peace. He continued:

“Where there is no freedom, there is no dignified life. Such an incident can never be accepted during the Peace and Democratic Society Process. The people of Bismil will give them the strongest answer. Our strength is our people. There is no greater power than the power of the people. Let everyone know that our people will stand up for their politics, their struggle and their will, and will not allow anyone to interfere with their will.”

Calling on the government to act, Co-Mayor Ay said, “If this is not stopped, it will pave the way for similar incidents in the future,” stressing that the matter must not be treated as an isolated incident. Ay said that whatever was legally required must be done.

Visit to Municipality Co-Mayors

Following the speeches, Co-Mayor Ay and those accompanying him visited Bismil Municipality Co-Mayors Mizgin Ekin and Güven Tanrıkulu to offer their condolences and wish them well.