A new investigation has been opened against Mehmet Türkmen, the chair of the United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers' Union (BİRTEK SEN), who was detained twice on 14 February and 16 February after the Gaziantep Governorate banned the protests against the imposition of low wages in Başpınar, and was arrested on 16 February on charges of "violating freedom of labour" and "incitement to commit a crime" after being detained at the union building. BİRTEK SEN announced on its social media account that the investigation had been opened on the charge of "denigrating state institutions and organs", citing the press statement he made after his release on 14 February.

Press statement after his arrest used as basis for investigation

BİRTEK SEN said: "Today, we have learned that a new investigation has been opened against our union chair Mehmet Türkmen because of his press statement on 14 February under the charge of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code "Insulting the institutions and organs of the state". Are you humiliated by saying that you are trampling on the law to the governor who banned the action of the workers who stopped work without resorting to violence in any way?" and the following questions were asked: "On what basis did the governorate declare a 15-day ban just after the workers decided to protest together? What is the legality of detaining a union leader from his office when he can come when called, when he is present in the resistance areas every day? How can the public prosecutor give an order before taking a statement? We ask, why did the police officers, including the head of the police department, enter and leave the room of the first prosecutor of the case several times? Again, we ask, why is the case being transferred to another prosecutor in a hurry while we are waiting for a statement in front of the prosecutor's door? Why is Mehmet Türkmen being dragged out of the courtroom without even being given the opportunity to sign the protocol in front of the interrogating judge who said in one sentence that he had issued an arrest warrant?

You will not be able to suppress the justice of the workers and the struggle of our union'

In the statement where they say that they will expose this illegality, they say: "We will say every time that you commit a crime by preventing the exercise of trade union rights. You will not be able to suppress the justice of the workers and the struggle of our union by trying to put pressure on the struggle of the workers and labourers with investigations. We are not one, we are thousands, we will win by uniting! (EVRENSEL DAILY)