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UNI joins call against wrongful conviction of Turkish labour leader
UNI Global Union has learned that the Turkish government has wrongfully convicted KESK Co-President Lami Özgen along with 20 of the union’s public officers. The labour leaders faced false charges of belonging to an illegal organization responsible for a 2016 coup attempt. The KESK is one of Turkey’s largest union confederations, and the organization says that Özgen’s conviction and unfair trail are a plot against the workers’ rights group.
UNI is asking affiliate unions to send a letter of solidarity to Turkey’s Ministry of Justice.
“The unfair trails of KESK leaders including Lami Özgen are a blow against democracy and basic human rights in Turkey. Unfortunately, they part of an ongoing pattern to suppress unions and increase the government’s control over civil society. We call on Turkey’s Ministry of Justice to live up to its name and make sure that justice is carried out here. It should overturn these convictions,” said UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings.
Lawyers representing the KESK leaders are appealing these convictions.
The letter can be downloaded below.
