The EI Executive Board, meeting in Brussels this week, learned with great regret that 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of EGITIM Sen-KESK, which includes the EI affiliate in Turkey, had prison sentences imposed by the Turkish courts for engaging in what would be regarded elsewhere as legitimate trade union activities.
The 25 public sector trade unionists were condemned to 6 years and 5 months in jail by a court in Izmir. They were amongst the 31 charged since November 2009 for allegedly belonging to an ‘illegal’ Kurdish organisation,the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK).
Trade unionists have been labelled terrorists based on ‘evidence’ including possession of books that can be found in any bookstore in Turkey, union meetings, and other elements which have nothing whatsoever to do with criminal activity.
According to EI affiliate, E?itim Sen, after it appeared as if judges were going to give the defendants favourable decisions, two of the judges were unjustifiably removed just before the final hearing. This provided a majority against the trade unionists in spite of the opposition of the Chief Justice. This fact raises serious concerns about the independence and objectivity of the court. E?itim Sen lawyers are therefore going to appeal to the upper court.
Therefore, the EI Executive Board firmly condemns the prison sentences to members of E?itim Sen, including former women’s secretary, Gülcin Isbert, awarded with the EI Human and Trade Union Rights Award at the recent EI Congress in Cape Town, for engaging in legitimate trade union activities.
The Board also declared that the imposition of such harsh and unjust sentences on trade union activists is an affront to democracy and a breach of the human and trade union rights of the individuals concerned.
Consequently, the Board is demanding both the Turkish courts and the Turkish Government to rescind the sentences and ensure that the human and trade union rights of its citizens are protected in accordance with ILO and UN Conventions.
Finally, the EI Executive Board encourages EI member organisations throughout the world to contact the Turkish authorities through the nearest Turkish embassy or directly to the Prime Minister at Government Buildings in the capital city in Ankara, to protest at these outrageous sentences.
His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Prime Minister of Turkey Istanbul Republic of Turkey Fax : +90 312 417 04 76 Tel.: +90 312 419 20 71
For more details please read E?itim Sen letter sent to EI