The public sector union KESK has in general been hit very hard by systematic judicial harassment, which at times seems tailored to bring the union to its knees.
Seher Tümer, Executive Board member of the KESK-affiliated Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES) was detained in her workplace, Ankara’s Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital, on 17 April, and was officially arrested on 20 April 2009. She was accused of belonging to an illegal armed organisation because on 22 March 2009 she had attended the traditional “Newroz” festival in Ankara, because she had participated in the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2009, and because of certain books and magazines which allegedly had been found in her house. She had stood trial a first time on 28 July 2009, a second time on 27 August 2009, a third time on 23 October 2009, and a fourth time on 18 December 2009. She had remained in prison throughout this whole period. On 9 March 2010 she had to appear in court again, and was eventually convicted to seven years and four months of prison. She remained in prison by the end of the year while the union appealed against her draconian sentence. Ms. Tümer was initially arrested at a time when she was bringing public attention to the deaths of babies, which were occurring at the Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital as part of her legitimate work as a trade unionist. During her trials, it has often been stated that she works for a union.
On 15 June, Akma Simsek, Secretary of the KESK Education and Organising Department, Ahmet Danacioglu, Executive Board member of KESK affiliate BES and Meryem Ozsögüt, Law, Collective Bargaining and Women’s Secretary of KESK affiliate SES, were arrested and detained. Meryem Ozsögüt had already been detained for 8 months in 2008. They were arrested for participating in a demonstration in front of an AKP building. Meryem Ozsögüt was released on 22 July.
Lokman Özdemir, President of the Religion and Foundation Workers Trade Union (DIVES), a KESK affiliate, was arrested on 24 August, without there being any legal basis for the charges brought against him.
Metin Findik of Tüm Bel Sen (Union of All Municipality Civil Servants) was locked up in an E-Type prison on 17 June 2009. The public prosecutor ordered that the case be treated in secrecy, meaning that his lawyers could not have access to his file, know about the allegations against, or prepare his defence. Metin was arrested shortly after taking part in the union’s elections, during which he was vocal in defending the rights of trade unions to strike and bargain collectively. He was still in prison by the end of 2010.
On 18 March, husband and wife Ferit and Belkıza Epözdemir, both members of Tüm Bel Sen, were arrested. They have three children, the youngest of whom is just three years old. Ferit and Belkıza were locked up in an E-type prison which was built to accommodate 400 prisoners, but actually held 856 people. The typical pattern of vague references to terrorist organisations was repeated in their case and their lawyers have been denied access to their case file. Both of them are still in prison.
The list of KESK activists who remain incarcerated is long. Other blatant cases include Olcay Kanlibas, former SES Executive Board member, arrested on 14 April 2009 and detained in Midyat prison, Mardin, where she remains to date; Ahmet Zirek, Tüm Bel Sen Diyarbakır Branch member, also arrested on 14 April 2009, still detained in Diyarbakır; Ayhan Kurtulan, former Egitim Sen Kars Branch leader, in prison since 16 March 2010; Tuncer Uşar, former Eğitim Sen branch manager, arrested on 23 April and detained on 26 April, in prison to date; and Aynur Şahin, SES Urfa Branch member and mother of a three year old, arrested on 5 October and still in prison.