Education International has offered heartfelt condolences to its Turkish affiliate, the Education and Science Workers’ Union of Turkey, after eight of its activists were confirmed killed in bomb attacks that struck Ankara over the weekend.
The Education and Science Workers’ Union of Turkey (EGITIM-SEN) is reeling after at least eight of its members were among the more than 100 killed in two bomb attacks during a peaceful protest on 10 October.
“We assembled in the rally to shout our aspiration for peace; men, women, young and old. We stood still with songs of peace,” read a statement on the EGITIM-SEN website. “We are not afraid, we will not give up, we will never forget, and will not forgive!”
Education International (EI) has learned that Mrs. Gülhan Elmascan, Mrs. ?irin Kiliçalp, Mr. Hakan Dursun Akalin, Mr. Niyazi Büyüksütçü, Mr. Gökmen Dalmaç Ramazan Çali?kan, Ba?ak Sidar Çevik, and Nilgün Çevik lost their lives when the explosions ripped through the crowds.
Organisers of the rally for “Peace, Democracy and Labour” included the trade union centre DISK, KESK, the Turkish public service workers federation and EGITIM-SEN. The peace rally also assembled pro-Kurdish civil society groups.
In no uncertain terms, Education International (EI) condemns this attack on peace and democracy and has requested the Turkish authorities to open full, impartial and immediate investigation into the bombings.