A joint delegation of European rapporteurs has been blocked from visiting Turkish mayors and other local elected officials held in prolonged pre-trial detention, according to a statement issued at the end of their visit to Türkiye. The delegation, drawn from the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions, spent three days in the country from 2 to 4 November 2026 before releasing its findings on 4 November.
The group said it “deeply regret[s]” that it was denied access to local elected representatives in detention and that a planned meeting with the Deputy Minister of Interior could not take place. Instead, the rapporteurs met Nuri Aslan, the acting mayor of Istanbul, to discuss strengthening local democracy and self-government.
Detained Mayors Named in Statement
The statement specifically named Tunç Soyer of İzmir and a former vice-president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Hasan Akgün, mayor of Büyükçekmece, Sinem Dedetaş, mayor of Üsküdar, and Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul. The delegation observed İmamoğlu’s court hearing in person on 3 November; he is also the recipient of the 2025 Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award.
The rapporteurs stressed that direct contact with detained colleagues is essential to their work, calling for the “early resumption of a constructive dialogue” with Turkish authorities on ending prolonged pre-trial detention and the practice of appointing trustees where elected officials cannot exercise their mandate. The statement also referenced an open letter sent to Türkiye’s Minister of Interior on 27 April 2026 on the same issues.
Concerns Over Rights and EU Reporting
Beyond the detention issue, the delegation raised concerns about recent developments affecting LGBTIQ+ persons, meeting civil society groups working to protect fundamental rights and freedoms. The statement recalled that freedoms of expression, assembly and association are protected under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The rapporteurs urged that the situation be highlighted in the European Commission’s Enlargement Package, released on the day of their statement, noting Türkiye’s status as one of the Council of Europe’s oldest member states and an EU candidate country.
