Abdurrahman Tutdere: Adıyaman has become a place of mourning

Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, who was sentenced to house arrest and suspended from his post as part of the investigation launched against him, made a statement to ANKA.

Tutdere said, “No one has the right to inflict this cruelty on these people,” and emphasized that ignoring the will of the people is unacceptable.

Regarding the imprisoned CHP mayors, Tutdere said, "I always say that a mayor's place is never in prison. Being a mayor is a public service. Municipalities provide public services. When you imprison a mayor, you are actually punishing the public. Services will be delayed. Our citizens will be deprived of these public services. They shouldn't do this to these people."

Tutdere said:

"I would like to thank all of our people, my fellow citizens of Adıyaman, all the lawyers across Türkiye, our esteemed Chairman, our fellow MPs, our organizations, and everyone else who stood by us during our time in custody with their prayers and support. Thank you. We will overcome these processes with solidarity."

"THE PEOPLE WERE HAPPY HERE"

"Of course, Adıyaman is an earthquake city; it has experienced great suffering. It's a city that lost thousands of its children to the ground without shrouds. It was a city struggling to rise from the rubble, from the ashes. We've been working diligently since the day we took office. We had a very good dialogue with our fellow citizens. And with that dialogue, we accomplished great things in the city. The city was healing every day. It was recovering every day. And the children, the women, the people were actually happy here."

"THE EXECUTION OF THE JUDICIAL CONTROL DECISION IS BEING CARRIED OUT"

"Of course, while we continue our work, we are currently at home due to an investigation being launched against us that is unlawful, truly devoid of legal basis, and without any justification. The judicial control order is being enforced. Our visiting citizens are also coming here. Everyone is disturbed by this. No one has the right to upset the people of Adıyaman. These people have already been paying a heavy price since February 6th. This is an earthquake city. The people are already very tired, already sad. On top of this fatigue and sadness, subjecting the mayors to such treatment, taking their will, truly breaks the conscience of all. Currently, Adıyaman has become a place of mourning. In other words, the atmosphere, the atmosphere of mourning that occurred on February 6th, has once again descended upon this city. This must be corrected as soon as possible. The relevant commissions and the relevant judicial units must correct this mistake. No one has the right to inflict this cruelty on these people. It is absolutely unacceptable to handcuff the will of the people demonstrated in the March 31st elections. These people do not accept it either. I believe that the will of the people of Adıyaman, With his stance, he will remove this shackle and we will continue our work where we left off."

"May all our mayors regain their freedom within a short time"

Tutdere said the following regarding the public meeting that the CHP will hold in Adıyaman:

"Especially today, the presence of our chairman, our deputy chairmen, and all our colleagues with whom we served as members of parliament with us, their solidarity with us, and their solidarity with the people of Adıyaman, has truly eased our pain somewhat. I also thank our chairman for the leadership and stance he has displayed in the face of the operations targeting all our municipalities during this period. The entire public stands with him. Our wish and hope is that all our mayors will be freed soon."

"WHEN YOU IMPRISONE THE MAYOR, YOU ARE ACTUALLY PUNISHING THE PEOPLE"

I always say that a mayor's place is never in prison. Mayorship is a public service. Municipalities provide public services. When you imprison a mayor, you are actually punishing the public. Services will be delayed. Our citizens will be deprived of these public services. Don't do this to these people. And we expect all our mayors to return to their duties. Let us, from here in Adıyaman and through you, send this message to the entire Turkish public: Mayors are people of the people. They exist to serve the people, and the people appointed them. Let them do their jobs. The public will make their assessment of them when the ballot box comes. Any other intervention is wrong. Whether by the judiciary or for any other purpose, removing mayors from their positions and forcing them to distance themselves from the people is truly wrong. We say, don't ruin this country.

Source: ANKA