Two workers walking from İstanbul to Ankara detained

Demanding their reinstatement, three dismissed municipal workers started walking to Ankara. Two of them were detained while the other says he will keep walking.

Ayça Söylemez

Two workers walking from İstanbul to Ankara detained

Photos: Turan Aktaş/Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

After they were fired from the opposition-led Şişli Municipality in İstanbul, four workers have been protesting for 667 days.

Workers Turan Aktaş, Mehmet Tunçay and Ramazan Çelik decided to walk from İstanbul to the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara, the capital, in protest of the dismissals. The other worker, Sakil Yazar, continues to protest in front of the district municipality.

During an ID check after the three workers arrived in Düzce city yesterday, two of them were detained for "being a member of an illegal organization."

Speaking to bianet, Çelik said, "We have been resisting for 667 days because we were fired unfairly and unlawfully. They dismissed me for 'not complying with work ethics' as per Code-29. We are resisting in pursuit of our bread and honor. I'm left alone but I'll continue walking."

In the morning, police raided Aktaş's home even though he had previously announced the protest on social media.

The two detained workers were told that they will be brought to İstanbul. (AS/VK)

CHP İstanbul workers' rights şişli municipality vk workers municipal workers

Ayça Söylemez

[email protected]

all articles of the author

Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Felsefe Bölümü mezunu. Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sosyoloji bölümünde yüksek lisans yaptı. Marmara Üniversitesi İletişim Bilimleri’nde doktora yapıyor. Vatan, Akşam, HaberTürk ve Hürriyet gazetelerinin yazıişleri ve dış haberler bölümünde çalıştı. Güncel Hukuk dergisinde yazıları yayınlandı. BirGün’de Anonim adlı köşeyi yazıyor. 2011’den bu yana bianet’te İnsan Hakları Editörü.