The Will of the People cannot be Disregarded:

We protest against the removal of the elected Metropolitan Mayors of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van from office. It is one more serious blow against democratic values, institutions, and the will of the voters. The Ministry of Interior announced that Metropolitan Mayors of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van had been removed from office on the ground that there were ongoing investigations against them at heavy penal courts. If that was the case, then why were they officially permitted to run as candidates?      

Here is the press release on 22 August 2019:

The Will of the People cannot be Disregarded:

In a few days the new Legal Year will start. Some bar associations will protest against the official ceremony at the Presidential Palace, some will not. Some high-ranking people will claim that the judiciary in Turkey is independent in harmony with democratic ideals and values.      

Then the Parliament will commence.  Some will claim that Sovereignty belongs to the Nation and that the parliament is the key institution that expresses that will thanks to free elections.       

Meanwhile some elected mayors will be removed from office: Diyarbakır, Mardin, Van and other cities will witness that the will of the voters have been disregarded. The citizens who protest against the removal will be taken into custody in the middle of the night -such as Ms Ayşegül Tözeren, a medical doctor, a fine writer and peace-seeking rights activist.      

And the New Legal Year will commence, the Parliament will open -with speeches full of concepts such as democracy, independence, sovereignity, nation, priority of the will of the people…        

Meanwhile, PEN will protest again, protest one more time, will keep protesting…