UNI global union supports UNIA’s campaign to free Murad Akincilar
Murad Akincilar was arrested on September 30th 2009 in front of his home in Istanbul by policemen in civilian clothes.
He is accused of belonging to a terrorist group, based on three related charges. First, Mr. Akincilar writes for a magazine called “Democratic Transformation” which reports on union and social issues. Second, the IP address of this magazine is the same as is used by the internet website “Devrimci Cephe” (Revolutionary Front) which is apparently the legal organisation of the terrorist group “Revolutionary Commandment”. However, IT specialists consulted by the Swiss union UNIA say that an IP address can easily be manipulated and thus can be used by different people/computers. Third, Murad Akincilar’s fingerprints were identified on a union magazine which was found in a flat frequented by persons suspected to be part of the terrorist group “Devrimci Cephe”. Mr. Akincilar risks imprisonment for up to 5 or 10 years if the charges are proven against him.
The charges also mention Mr. Akincilar’s participation in demonstrations, writing leaflets and articles in a legal review of the Turkish opposition before coming to Switzerland where he has been working as a UNIA trade union official for years.
Last July, Mr. Akincilar went back to Turkey for personal reasons and was arrested. Mr. Akincilar received medical treatment last October after he lost part of his eyesight due to the violent treatments he suffered during hours of interrogation following his arrest.
More than two thousand people and several associations, political parties, and trade unions as well as European, Swiss and German parliamentarians have shown their support for Mr. Akincilar.
A motion adopted by the government of Geneva has been deposited to the Higher Chamber of Switzerland to ask the Swiss Government to “call upon the Turkish authorities for the immediate release of Murad Akincilar”.
On 27 March, a demonstration was held in the Rue de Mont Blanc, Geneva, attended by over 100 people. A number of speakers at the demonstration, including representatives from UNIA and local politicians, as well as the lawyer for Mr. Akincilar, called for his immediate release.
Mr. Yannis Pasoulas, President of the Construction Workers’ Federation of Greece and executive member of the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), Mr. Jean-Michel Dolivio and Mr. Hünzü Yilmaz, lawyers, members of the Vaudois Progressives Jurists and the Democrat Jurists of Switzerland, have declared they will be part of the delegation which will attend the hearing that will take place in Ankara on June 3rd 2010.
UNI global union fully supports this campaign and enjoins you to sign the solidarity message that you’ll find here: http://www.unia.ch/Solidaritaet-mit-Murad-Akincil.3855.0.html?&L=1