Mersin Protests Intensify Amid Arrests of Pro-Kurdish Officials

Protests erupted in Mersin's Akdeniz district on Monday following the arrest of pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party officials, including Co-Mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan. Hundreds gathered outside the DEM Party’s district office, condemning the arrests and the government's appointment of a trustee to the municipality.

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Heavy Police Response Sparks Backlash

Demonstrators faced a strong police presence, which escalated when authorities blocked their attempt to visit local businesses. Protesters resisted the blockade, leading to clashes that resulted in at least five arrests and numerous injuries. Among those injured was journalist Fatoş Sarıkaya, who was reportedly beaten during the unrest. Perihan Koca, a DEM Party MP from Mersin, criticized the police’s actions, calling them unconstitutional:

“Even visiting shopkeepers is prohibited. This is palace terror.”

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Unrest Escalates

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Repression will not intimidate us” and resisted police efforts to disperse the crowd. The situation intensified in Yenipazar’s backstreets, where demonstrators lit fires and launched fireworks in defiance. Later, young activists reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at police while singing resistance songs.

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Calls for Continued Action

After breaking through police barricades, protesters held a gathering outside the DEM Party’s district office, urging mass participation in a rally planned for Tuesday in front of the municipality. The rally is expected to feature Democratic Regions Party Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır. Protests have since spread to other areas, reflecting growing discontent over the arrests and the perceived suppression of opposition voices in Turkey.