By Mark Beacon, UNISON head of international
On 27 April, 15 leading trade unionists in Turkey were finally acquitted following a legal battle lasting 14 years.
The women, all members of the public service trade union federation KESK, were initially arrested in February 2012, following a planning meeting for International Women’s Day. After being charged with alleged membership of an illegal terrorist organisation, some were permanently dismissed from working in public services. Many endured 8-10 months in pretrial detention before being released on strict bail conditions, including a travel ban lasting several years.
On 21 April, I joined the chair of UNISON’s international committee, Margaret McKee, to observe the 26th hearing in their trial at the Heavy Penal Court in Ankara. It’s a place I’ve visited several times before to observe the trials of leading trade unionists facing trumped-up terrorism charges for their legitimate trade union work.
But this hearing felt different. Whilst there was the usual presence of riot police, a press conference was permitted prior to the hearing, with trade unionists from Turkey and Europe allowed to say a few words to the independent journalists still allowed to operate.
Ordinary trade union members
Before the hearing we met with some of the women on trial and their lawyers. They explained how they had been targeted by police for demanding peace and workers’ and women’s rights, including an end to femicide. Months of surveillance had produced no evidence of any crime, yet their case had continued through the courts for 14 years. Until recently, their regular court hearings were combined with the trial of 77 leading members of KESK, also charged with membership of an illegal terrorist organisation.
UNISON, along with other European public service unions, has followed this and other trials closely, with general secretaries sending solidarity messages ahead of each hearing and observers attending key hearings. Canan, a former executive member of the education union Egitim Sen, explained that during her nine months in prison, “We always felt your solidarity”.
In the hearing, three male judges sat above the courtroom alongside the public prosecutor, with the defendants and their lawyers beneath them and the words “Justice is the foundation of the State” inscribed behind them. But those foundations have been severely weakened, particularly since the constitutional referendum in 2018 which further eroded the independence of the judiciary, diminished the powers of parliament, and increased the powers of the presidency.
One by one, the defendants objected to the charges against them, explaining that being a member of a trade union was not a criminal offence and certainly not an act of terrorism, and neither was their attendance at a planning meeting for International Women’s Day. These were ordinary trade union members, working in hospitals, schools and local government. They took part in ordinary trade union meetings and participated in ordinary trade union campaigns, which the government clearly disliked.
Dismantling the charges
Each of the defence lawyers then took it in turn to dismantle the charges. The prosecutor’s case remained the same as it did in 2012, no new evidence had been found and established procedures for surveillance were not followed. Evidence was non-existent, replaced by accusations ranging from owning a widely available political book or a Kurdish music cassette, to attending a meeting which according to the police didn’t take place.
They cited other relevant case law, including examples from the European Court of Human Rights, all of which had been disregarded. It felt very similar to the other politicised trials I had observed in Turkey.
At the end of the hearing, each of the accused stood for a final time to reject the charges against them. They expressed their pride in being trade unionists and requested their acquittal. As the judges and prosecutor deliberated in private, we gathered outside a smaller courtroom, with riot police to accompany us. Although the judges reserved their judgement, there was a clear sense of optimism that this 14-year ordeal would soon end.
Last Monday the judges finally gave their verdict and acquitted all 15 women trade unionists. The public prosecutor has appealed, but for now these brave trade unionists can celebrate.
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