TUC protests about jailed Turkish trade unionist

TUC protest letter to Turkish Embassy

Trade unionist in jail in Turkey

7 July 2008

The TUC has sent the following letter of protest to the Turkish Embassy in London:

Dear Ambassador Alpogan

Detention of management board member SES - Ms Meryem Özsögüt

The TUC is deeply concerned about the detention of Meryem Özsögüt and urges that she be immediately released.

We understand that Ms Özsögüt was arrested following her participation in a press conference on 14 December 2007 to denounce the killing of Kevser Mizrak. Ms Özsögüt's attendance at the press conference was the result of a fax message received by her trade union, requesting that the union participate in the press conference.

We have been further informed that several other people who were arrested at or around the same time as Ms Özsögüt, ostensibly for the same reasons, have since been released. However, Ms Özsögüt remains in custody and her trial has now been postponed several times.

Along with the release of Ms Özsögüt the TUC urges that the Turkish government takes the appropriate steps to ensure that all public sector workers are fully guaranteed their right to organise, form trade unions and carry out legitimate trade union activities in accordance with those international treaties the Republic of Turkey is a signatory to.

Continued attacks on trade union rights in Turkey are doing nothing to assist those of us who have consistently argued for Turkey to be allowed to join the European Union. I would be grateful if you could convey our views to your Government, and would welcome any response you might care to make.

Yours sincerely

BRENDAN BARBER

General Secretary