Letter of protest
Please write similar letters of support to
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the Ministry of Justice in Turkey, Fax: 0090 312 41 933 70
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the Directorate General of international law and foreign relations, [email protected]
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the Directorate General of the prisons and dentention houses, [email protected], Fax: 0090 312 223 98 77, 0090 312 223 60 07
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the court in Diyarbakır: Diyarbakır 4. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesine, Fax: +90 412 228 30 40
Please send a copy to [email protected]
I am writing to inform you that I am following the struggle of the TEKEL workers closely. I fully support the struggle of the TEKEL workers against the results of the privatisation of their industry. Their struggle is justified and needed to defend thousands of workers against job losses and wage cuts.
The protests of the TEKEL workers on 1 April were another attempt to demonstrate their justified case. I, as a member of the European Parliament, strongly protest against the violence used by the police in Ankara to stop the workers from demonstrating. I support all those workers and their supporters who are now being persecuted for taking part in this protest.
I have heard of the case of Okan Duman, a supporter of the TEKEL workers, who was arrested when showing his solidarity with their struggle on 1 April. I am very concerned with reports that while in custody he has suffered degrading and violent treatment. I am also deeply concerned about his arrest on 1 April and the beating he received from police on that date.
His arrest is clearly a political act by the Turkish state to try and intimidate the workers in TEKEL into abandoning their struggle. I call for his immediate release and the dropping of all charges against him.
Should charges not be dropped I intend to bring the imprisonment of Okan Duman to the attention of the European Parliament and the Parliament’s International Trade committee. I will also bring to its attention, the police repression against TEKEL workers.
My solidarity is with the TEKEL workers, their supporters and Okan Duman, who are still highly motivated to fight for their rights and those of workers internationally.
Yours Faithfully,
Joe Higgins MEP
Socialist Party (Ireland)
Section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI)
Please write similar letters of support to
-
the Ministry of Justice in Turkey, Fax: 0090 312 41 933 70
-
the Directorate General of international law and foreign relations, [email protected]
-
the Directorate General of the prisons and dentention houses, [email protected], Fax: 0090 312 223 98 77, 0090 312 223 60 07
-
the court in Diyarbakır: Diyarbakır 4. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesine, Fax: +90 412 228 30 40
Please send a copy to [email protected]
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