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Education International has written to the government of Turkey to condemn the fact that more than 30 members of Egitim Sen, EI’s Turkish affiliate, were arrested in the early hours of 28 May. In a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, EI deplores this latest police action against democratic trade union organisations.

Egitim Sen, which is affiliated to the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK), informed EI that the police forces launched operations against the KESK headoffice in Ankara, as well as in KESK local branches in Izmir, Istanbul, Van and Manisa.

More than 30 members of Egitim Sen were arrested, including members of the administrative boards in its local branches, a member of the executive board, and Gulcin Isbert, the Women’s Secretary of Egitim Sen. Songul Morsümbül, Women’s Secretary of KESK, was also taken into custody.

Six of the unionists have been released, but the others remain in detention. In addition, documents and computers were seized by the police, without any reason given for this operation.

“EI firmly condemns the attack by the Turkish authorities against trade union officials and members,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

“The harassment and detention of trade union leaders and activists because of their legitimate democratic activities are serious violations of international human rights law, including the International Labour Organisation Convention 87 on freedom of association, which Turkey ratified in 1993,” van Leeuwen said.

“The rights of workers’ organizations can only be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind against both leaders and members, and it is the responsibility of governments to ensure that this principle is respected.”

EI urges the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all the leaders and members of Egitim Sen and KESK that have been arrested. EI also demands that the authorities respect the fundamental trade union rights of workers’ organisations like Egitim Sen and KESK, and stop impeding their activities.