The Day of the Mukhtars was celebrated in Nazilli.

A ceremony was held in Aydın’s Nazilli district on October 19, in celebration of the Muhtarlar Day. During the ceremonies, a visit was made to the grave of Gül Esin, Turkey’s first female muhtar.

In Nazilli, a wreath-laying ceremony was organized in front of the Atatürk Monument located at Station Square on the occasion of Muhtarlar Day. The ceremony was attended by Nazilli Mayor Ertuğrul Tetik, Nazilli District Police Chief Şafak Yıldırım, Nazilli District Gendarmerie Commander Captain Ahmet Refik Özsoy, Nazilli Muhtarlar Association President Mustafa Karaburun, department heads, representatives of political parties, professional chambers, and NGOs, as well as muhtars.

After laying the wreath of the Nazilli Muhtarlar Association at the Atatürk Monument, a moment of silence was observed and the National Anthem was sung. In a speech highlighting the significance of the day, Association President Mustafa Karaburun stated, “The muhtarate, which forms the first link in the chain of democracy, is the institutional representative of our state that represents the oldest example of local democracy. It is a 195-year-old institution that represents all the institutions of our state in the neighborhoods where our muhtars are located and serves as a bridge between our people and state institutions. As one of the institutions that renew itself in today’s world, it is beside our people in joy and sorrow and at their service. I celebrate Muhtarlar Day on October 19 for our muhtars who carry out the important task of representing both the state and the nation.”

On the other hand, it did not go unnoticed that only about 30 muhtars attended the ceremony in Nazilli, where 82 neighborhood muhtars serve. The association president commented on the low turnout, stating, “Our village muhtars could not attend the ceremony because they had work to do as the olive and chestnut harvest is ongoing. Only the muhtars from the district center participated in the ceremony. There is no negative situation regarding our association.”

After the ceremony, a visit was made to the grave of Gül Esin, Turkey’s first female muhtar, at Eğriboyun Cemetery, where flowers were laid and prayers were offered. Nazilli Mayor Ertuğrul Tetik, speaking here, stated that they respectfully remember Gül Esin and all muhtars who lost their lives while on duty.