Wanting to live a human life became grounds for detention

According to the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), the minimum wage announced by the government for 2026 is below the hunger threshold. The 28 percent raise offer presented by the Migros management to warehouse workers for 2026 pushed the workers to stop work and resist the capitalist class on the grounds that it was insufficient in the face of rising living costs.

‘WE ARE COMING BACK TO OUR FAMILY HOME, ÖZİLHAN’

A post made on the X platform by DGD-SEN, which leads the resistance of Migros warehouse workers, drew attention. The solidarity action, which they announced with the headline “We Are Coming Back to Our Family Home, Özilhan” in their call to gather in front of Özilhan’s house on the 13th day of the resistance, was also a reaction to the government declaring 2025 as the “Year of the Family.”

PROTEST BAN

It was learned that the Beykoz District Governorate had issued a “protest ban” in the district. The detentions, carried out under the guise of the so-called ban, took on inhumane dimensions. According to DGD-SEN, even those who ‘fainted’ were detained.

THEY GATHERED FOR THOSE DETAINED

DGD-SEN decided to hold a protest on the same day for those detained. According to the announcement made by DGD-SEN via its X account, it invited “all unions, parties, labor and youth organizations” to gather at Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Park at 19:00. There were detentions during the protest.

*Images: DGD-SEN

DGD-SEN LAWYER LÜTFİ BATI SPOKE TO 12PUNTO

DGD-SEN lawyer Lütfi Batı spoke to 12Punto about the detention processes. Regarding the claim that ‘they even took those who fainted’ during the detentions, Batı said, “Yes, it is true; a worker who fell ill in the protest area shortly before the detentions began was detained from the same area a short while later. Not even an ambulance was called for medical intervention; they were helped to recover by people in the area, and then they were detained.”

‘IT IS CONTRARY TO HUMAN DIGNITY’

Regarding the irregularities experienced during the detention process of the workers and unionists, Batı said, “The most striking attitude contrary to human dignity was that all the workers and unionists were handcuffed behind their backs. The legislation on this matter is actually quite clear; handcuffs can be used to bring a person under control if they are going to harm themselves or someone else, but even then, they cannot be handcuffed behind their backs; this is contrary to human dignity. Here, we are talking about workers who did not show resistance or any opposition while being detained; even when there is no need for handcuffs, the deliberate application of handcuffs behind the back is in itself a violation of the prohibition of ill-treatment and torture. The handcuff marks, which also appeared on social media, clearly show that this treatment caused not only moral damage but also physical injury. The plastic handcuffs they used are of a type that causes cuts and wounds on the wrists that do not heal for several days even with normal use, so there is also an injury involved. Apart from this, situations such as workers being threatened and manhandled by law enforcement officers during their detention have also occurred.”

‘IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO ANYONE, INCLUDING THEIR LAWYERS’

Regarding the detention process of DGD-SEN Chairwoman Neslihan Acar, Batı said, “Chairwoman Neslihan’s situation was a bit strange, frankly; they took her away in a private car. We suspected whether there was a different attitude because she is the union’s chairwoman, but as we learned later, they preferred to detain her in a passenger vehicle instead of standard detention vehicles because her arm was broken. Since this situation was not explained to anyone, including her lawyers, it caused outrage.”

Stating that Neslihan Acar’s detention situation arose as a result of a mix-up, Batı added, “The reason they detained Chairwoman Neslihan was a statement she had already given. Because they did not update the system, they held her saying ‘you have not given a statement’ even though she had. Although we spoke with the authority that previously took the statement, her release was delayed because they did not update the UYAP system to show that the statement had been taken.”

According to statistics obtained from the Lawyers’ Voice Initiative (ASİ), 45 workers and DGD-SEN Chairwoman Neslihan Acar were released from detention.

News Source: 12punto