A series of unprecedented bans on rights to freedom of association and restrictions of basic civil liberties were enforced following the 15 July coup attempt.
Decree Law No. 672, which was proclaimed on 1 September 2016, stipulated the dismissal of more than 50,000 civil servants. Naturally, press releases, marches and
protests were organised in response to such an arbitrary government decision. However, the police force interfered in peaceful demonstrations. For example:
• On 9 September, a press statement for a protest to be held in Diyarbakir was prevented from being read out and 70 members of the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) were detained and several of them were charged with violating Law 2911 on Demonstrations and Public Meetings;
• On 10 November, the Trade Union of the Employees of the Public Health and Social Services (SES) organised a collective action against the unjustified collective dismissals and the declared “state of emergency” (OHAL). The police intervened and many members, including the joint leader of SES and members of the central executive committee, were detained;
• On 14 December, a press release was organised for a protest by the Public Sector Energy Workers’ Trade Union in front of the Ministry of Energy. However, the gathering was prohibited by the police, and the president of ESM Ankara, Mr. Murat Çeşme, as well as other members (Ömer Faruk Kök, Özkan Boğan and Volkan Yaramiş), were taken into custody;
• On 21 December, KESK organised a march called “I want my job and my bread back” which was supposed to proceed from Istanbul to Ankara. On the day of the gathering, police surrounded the starting point of the march, namely Kadıköy Pier Square, and attacked participants with sticks, shields, pepper spray and plastic bullets.