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Gendarmerie attacks striking workers with batons in Şanlıurfa

The gendarmerie, intervening against Özak Tekstil workers protesting in Şanlıurfa, also detained BİRTEK-SEN General President Mehmet Türkmen.

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The Şanlıurfa Governor's Office has banned protests and events in the city from November 29, 2023, to December 2, 2023. The gendarmerie, which intervened against Özak Tekstil workers who had recently gone on strike for their union rights, also detained BİRTEK-SEN General President Mehmet Türkmen and two union representatives.

In a statement made from BİRTEK-SEN's X account, it was stated, "Upon the special 'request' of the Özak Tekstil boss, a ban decision was made to break the resistance of Özak workers against threats, pressure to change unions, and layoffs at the factory."

DETAINED BY FORCE

BİRTEK-SEN General President Türkmen, who was detained, shared a video he took in the detention vehicle on his X account. In the video, Türkmen said, "After the Governor's Office decision, we were attacked by the gendarmerie before we were even allowed to make a statement to the workers. I was forcibly detained by the collar. By the order of the Özak boss. Support the Özak resistance! We will win by resisting."

 

"WE WILL CONTINUE THIS PROTEST UNTIL WE GET OUR RIGHTS"

A.B., one of the workers protesting at the factory, said in a statement, "We were subjected to pressure and beaten. There is nothing beyond this. Our voice needs to reach somewhere. Right now, our fellow workers are still gathered here and continuing the protest. We will be here for another hour. According to the news we received, our union president was released a little while ago. He will come to us after the check-up at Balıklıgöl State Hospital. After he comes to us, we will all disperse together. After dispersing, we will all gather there again tomorrow morning from 07:00. When the intervention took place today, we were protesting with nearly 600 fellow workers to get our rights. We will continue this protest until we get our rights. A ban was issued, we do not understand why this ban was issued. There is no natural disaster or anything else, we do not know on what basis a 3-day ban was issued," he said.

"WE WERE DETAINED BY FORCE"

In his statement regarding the intervention and the detention of himself and two union representatives, BİRTEK-SEN General President Mehmet Türkmen said, "As you know, for 3 days, all kinds of crimes are being committed against workers in the resistance for workers' rights at Özak. There is a threat, there is pressure, laws are being violated. Those who should actually intervene and take action against this lawlessness have imposed a protest ban with the decision of the Governor's Office, not at the request, but by the order of the Özak Tekstil boss. With this ban, we were unlawfully intervened against and detained by force. Now my statement has been taken, I am being released, and I will go to the workers."