‘Unionist Held in Detention Due to Union Activities’
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Unionists Çağdaş Yazıcı, Recep Temel and İdil Uğurlu have been taken into custody in İzmir on charge of “propagandizing for an illegal organization”.
All Municipality and Local Administration Services Laborers Union (Tüm Bel Sen) operating under the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) İzmir Branch No.1 President Çağdaş Yazıcı, Branch Board Member Recep Temel and Education Union İzmir Branch No.6 former president İdil Uğurlu have been held in İzmir Security Directorate since Friday (March 16).
Stating that there is sealing order on the investigation file, their lawyers Nazan Sakallı told bianet that both Yazıcı and Uğurlu’s deposition proceedings were completed, the police asked both of them about union activities and no evidence concerning “illegal organization propaganda” charge has been presented.
“He was blown down and handcuffed from behind upon child warning”
Nazan Sakallı explained the detention process:
“Police came at around 5-6 a.m. on Friday and knocked the door breaking it. They told me that the police got them on the ground after the door opened and handcuffed them from behind.
“Çağdaş Yazıcı said that they warned that ‘there is a child at home’ when police entered, and then the police got him on the ground and handcuffed him from behind. When things calmed, they took off the handcuffs and this time handcuffed him from front.
“They also conveyed that they weren’t subjected to any ill-treatment in detention”.
“Union activities were questioned in the police station”
Lawyer Sakallı expressed that they were asked about “leaflets they distributed against corruptions; hanging banners reading ‘No’ distributed by the KESK during referendum, correspondences as to regulation of union contributions”.
Asserting that “There is no evidence with respect to illegal organization propaganda”, lawyer Sakallı said, “The charge is about propagandizing for the PKK/KCK but there is no information about that in the file”.
Expressing that “By the method of investigation and nature of charges, what is intended is to criminalize struggle for labor”, lawyer Sakallı said that they haven’t been informed as to for how long the three unionists will be held in detention. (AS/TK)