We invite you and your members to take action now and send your protest message to the government of Turkey. Please give high visibility to the appeal by recommending it to your colleagues, your union members and your networks. Post it on your website, Facebook and Twitter.
Background
On 13 December 2012, Turkey will see a new episode in the judicial harassment against trade unionists, as three women unionists, including Güldane Erdoğan from the teacher union Egitim Sen, will appear in front of the Court. Those women were amongst of the 15 female union leaders who were arrested on 13 February 2012 in connection with the International Women’s Day preparations.
These arrests are part of a disturbing pattern of injustice against individuals and groups – many are teachers, trade unionists, journalists, political activists, or members of the human rights community – seeking to exercise their basic rights as citizens.
In recent years, Egitim Sen – EI’s affiliate in Turkey – has regularly informed EI of the arrest and detention of a number of trade union leaders, supposedly for having unproven connections to illegal organisations. On 28 October 2011, 25 Egitim Sen and KESK members were condemned to 6 years and 5 months imprisonment despite large international mobilization and protests. On 25 June 2012, police actions across Turkey resulted in the arrests of 71 union leaders and activists in their homes and offices, including 3 members of the Executive Board of Egitim Sen – Mehmet Bozgeyik, General Secretary; Sakine Eren Yılmaz, Gender Secretary and Abdullah Karahan, Secretary for Financial Affairs.
To date, 66 trade unionists (28 from Egitim Sen) remain in detention in Turkey; and many more are waiting to appear in the court.
Solidarity with Turkish teacher unionists
EI has been providing support to its Turkish affiliate, Egitim Sen, for many years. On 13 December, an international delegation will attend the court hearing.
EI calls on you and your members to support our Turkish colleagues by taking the following actions now:
1. Encourage your individual union members to send online messages to the authorities.
2. Send appeals (using the attached model letter), in English, Turkish or your own language, urging the Turkish authorities to:
- Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey - E-mail: receptayyip.erdogan@basbakanlik.gov.tr
- Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey - E-mail: cumhurbaskanligi@tccb.gov.tr
- Mr. Sadullah Ergin, Ministry of Justice - E-mail: info@adalet.gov.tr
3. Contact your Government and the diplomatic representation of Turkey in your country, requesting them to engage with the Turkish authorities.
4. Give visibility to the situation of teachers in Turkey in your magazine, on your website, during meetings and via other appropriate means.
EI will endeavour to keep you updated on all developments. EI will also inform Egitim Sen of all solidarity actions undertaken on their behalf. For additional information or to discuss possible action, contact the EI Regional Coordinator.
EI thanks you for your solidarity in support of our Turkish colleagues.
