Muhtar (title)
A muhtar is the elected village head in villages of Turkey and in villages of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In cities, likewise, each neighbourhood has a muhtar but with a slightly different status. Muhtars and their village councils (Turkish: Azalar or İhtiyar heyeti) are elected during local elections for five years. However, political parties are not permitted to nominate candidates for these posts.
Rural muhtars[edit]
In each village, the muhtar is the highest elected authority of the village. (There is no mayor in a village.) According to the Village Law,[1] tasks of the muhtars are in two groups: compulsory tasks are about public health, primary school education, security and notification of public announcements, etc. Noncompulsory tasks depend on the demands of village residents.
Urban muhtars[edit]
In each town there are several neighbourhoods. In medium-sized cities, there may be tens of neighbourhoods, and in big cities the number may exceed well over a hundred. Each has a muhtar. Urban muhtars have fewer tasks than rural muhtars,[2] ranging from registering the residents of the quarter, to providing official copies of birth certificates and identification cards.
References[edit]
- ^ Law 442 of 1924 (as amended; originally 68 T.C. Resmi Gazete 237, 7 April 1924).
- ^ An essay on the tasks ((in Turkish)).
