After Colemêrg (Hakkari), Esenyurt, Êlih (Batman), Mêrdîn (Mardin) and Xelfetî (Halfeti), trustees were appointed to Dêrsim and Pulur (Ovacık) municipalities on 22 November. Alevi women in Izmir evaluated the appointment of trustees to municipalities.

 

'APPOINTED FOR ALEVI BELIEF'

 

Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD) Izmir Branch Co-Chair Nebat Çelik pointed out that a trustee was appointed to Dêrsim at a time when Seyid Rıza commemorations were being held. Nebat Çelik said: "This trustee is also appointed to the Alevi belief. We do not accept this, we do not bow down. Trustees are constantly appointed to municipalities governed by the co-mayor model. It is the will of women that is targeted here. Batman was the place where a mayor received the most votes in the country. It was the place that received the most votes despite Hezbollah. A trustee was appointed because there was a strong women's will. Just as Seyid Rıza did not bow down to them, we will not bow down to them either."

 

'TRUSTEE IS A BLOW TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE'

 

Fadime Dapaklı said that the trustees are a "coup against the will of the people" and said that the trustees first targeted women. Fadime Dapaklı said: "They want to withdraw women from all social areas. Because they are aware of the productive side of women. If a woman is conscious and organised, she organises her children and her environment. Therefore, they are targeting women, especially municipalities governed by the co-mayor model."

 

'WE DO NOT ACCEPT'

 

Noting that women are the essence of social struggle, Güler Karayüz said: "We have to fight against the trustees. Because this is also related to our Alevi belief. 25 November is actually a day of struggle. Women are massacred in the country every day. We need to be in the fields and streets against these massacres and trustees."

 

Zöhre Şahane, who condemned the trustee appointments, said: "I see the trustees as an injustice for women and I do not accept them."