Solidarity with BiRTEK-SEN and textiles workers in Türkiye
Mehmet has been arrested twice in the last few days: a new prosecutor was brought in to command his re-arrest him after the original prosecutor had ordered his release. This time he has been accused of "incitement to commit a crime" after encouraging union organising. Such an accusation is an attack on the values that underpin trade unions worldwide. Trade unionism is a not a crime.
The arrest of Mr Türkmen, who has led his union in protesting for better conditions in the region’s textile factories, is clear state harassment of a legitimate, independent trade union leader. It shows deep disregard for the protection of fundamental human rights, including the freedom of assembly, enshrined in Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and freedom of association, protected by ILO Convention 87, which safeguards the right to organise and operate without interference. Both instruments have been ratified by Türkiye.
For years, workers in Türkiye have faced relentless attacks on their freedoms and rights. Civil liberties have been crushed, and independent trade unions and their members have been systematically targeted, often through prosecution on fabricated charges, with many trade union leaders facing many years in jail. Mehmet’s arrest is part of a pattern of repression that has made Türkiye one of the ten worst countries in the world for workers[1].
We stand with BİRTEK-SEN and all independent trade unions in Turkey in their fight against oppression and exploitation. We demand the immediate release of Mehmet Türkmen and the cessation of state harassment against him and his union, and we call on the authorities in Türkiye to lift the ban on peaceful demonstrations and to respect the fundamental rights of all workers and their representatives.
