The chair of the United Textile and Leather Workers’ Union (Birtek-Sen), Mehmet Türkmen, has been arrested in Antep. A court ordered his pre-trial detention on the charge of “inciting hatred and hostility.” Türkmen had been detained the previous day after visiting striking workers at the Sırma Halı carpet factory. The workers have been protesting for around three months because they have not received their wages.
During his visit, Türkmen delivered a speech in which he criticized the situation of workers as well as the role of employers and authorities. Among other things, he said: “If you are an employer or wealthy in this country, you can appropriate the rights of workers. You can neglect safety measures and cause the death of laborers — and no one holds you accountable. In this country, the laws do not apply to the rich.”
He continued: “Have you ever heard of the police grabbing an employer by the collar and saying, ‘Come here, give an account’? But when workers demand their rights, trade union members are arrested and confronted.”
On the morning after this speech, Türkmen was detained, while the gendarmerie simultaneously searched his home and confiscated electronic storage devices. After questioning at the police station, he was brought before the prosecutor on Monday morning. The prosecution then accused him of having “incited hatred and hostility or insulted sections of the population” through his statements and requested pre-trial detention. The presiding judge approved the request.
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