Police block miners' protest in Edirne
Özşen Madencilik workers, who have been fighting for their unpaid rights in Edirne, faced police intervention while attempting to make their voices heard by President Erdoğan. Two workers were detained in the incident, and it was alleged that ambulances were not called for those who fell ill.
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The struggle for rights continues for workers who have been unable to collect their receivables from Özşen Madencilik, a company affiliated with the Kiremitçiler Group operating in Edirne. Having suffered for months after the company declared a concordat, the workers took action on the occasion of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's program in the city.
The workers wanted to go to the program to be held at the Selimiye Mosque in order to convey their problems directly to President Erdoğan. However, their march was not permitted as a result of a ban decision taken by the district governor's office. Security forces intervened against the miners who wanted to advance toward the mosque.
During this intervention, two miners were detained, and footage of the incident was shared on social media by the Independent Miners' Union (Bağımsız Maden İşçileri Sendikası). In the video in question, one of the detained workers was seen being dragged on the ground by gendarmerie teams.
In a statement made by the union after the incident, it was stated, “Call an ambulance! We are not allowed to intervene in any way to help our fellow miners who were attacked by law enforcement and fell ill. They won't even let us call an ambulance. Do you want us to die?”
According to the information obtained, some of the workers became ill during the scuffle. However, it is alleged that medical teams were not allowed to intervene in the area, and no ambulance was called. In addition to the union, various non-governmental organizations also reacted to the grievances experienced by the miners and the detention practices.