Mehmet Türkmen, President of the BİRTEK-SEN union, was arrested on March 16 for a speech he delivered at a protest by Sırma Halı workers in Gaziantep. The prosecutor’s office referred Türkmen to court on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility,” and the court issued a detention order. In a statement following the decision, Türkmen said the process had been initiated based on complaints from employers. The union stated that Türkmen had been targeted due to his union activities regarding workers’ wages and working conditions.
March 16, 2026
sendika.org