Over forty workers are facing trial following a mass arrest of striking construction workers at Istanbul’s new airport. Approximately 10,000 workers went on strike on 14 September 2018 to protest poor health and safety conditions at the site. The protest was violently dispersed by police and military with teargas.
On 16 and 17 September, police conducted mass arrests and detained a number of workers when they arrived at the site to work. Approximately 401 workers were taken into custody by police, with the majority being released shortly after.
On 19 September, 43 of the workers appeared before court. Twenty-four were placed in pretrial detention and 19 were released on bail. After further arrests were carried out, a total of 31 workers were held in pretrial detention in Silivri prison. Among them was Özgür Karabulut, president of the union Dev Yapı-İş, who was arrested on 5 October for a speech he made to the workers during the 14 September protest. Three trade union representatives from the construction workers’ union were also arrested. They were accused of disrupting freedom to work, violating the law on demonstrations and public assemblies, damaging public property, resisting police, and possessing weapons.
