Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG) and Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), Rapporteurs on the situation of local democracy in Türkiye for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, have issued the following statement regarding the recent arrest of Congress Vice-President and Mayor of Üsküdar, Sinem Dedetaş (Türkiye, SOC/G/PD):

“We deeply deplore the detention of Sinem Dedetaş, Mayor of Üsküdar and Vice-President of the Congress, on corruption charges. This further exemplifies the persistent pattern of detentions affecting CHP mayors and officials. We are extremely concerned by these systematic arrests of opposition local elected representatives. Respecting the will of voters is fundamental; however, since the 2024 local elections, many Turkish citizens have seen their votes disregarded.

“As a member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye is bound to respect democratic principles, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights, including the rights of the opposition. The role of opposition voices is crucial in any healthy democracy. We urge the Turkish authorities to fully honour these commitments.

”We call on the Turkish authorities to engage in a meaningful political dialogue with the Congress to this end.”