Teachers Commemorating Killed Student Arrested

Four teachers and members of the Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-Sen) were arrested and taken to prison on charges of "making propaganda for an illegal organization" because they attended the commemoration gathering for twelve-year-old Uğur Kaymaz. The student was shot dead together with his father Ahmet Kaymaz by the police in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin (south-east) on 21 November 2004.

Kızıltepe Eğitim-Sen Representative Salih Kuday, Eğitim-Sen executive Abdülkadir Demir, former executive Mehmet Ali Çiçek and union member Erdal Çam were taken into police custody on Tuesday (2 August) under allegations of attending a demonstration on 24 November 2010 and on charges of "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization".

"There only 'crime' is attending a commemoration"

According to the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), the Eğitim-Sen members were interrogated and then brought to the Kızıltepe Criminal Court of First Instance with the request for their arrest. The teachers gave their statements at court. Subsequently, they were arrested and taken to the Mardin E Type Closed Prison because they allegedly attended the demonstration organized to commemorate Uğur Kaymaz and on charges of "making propaganda for an illegal organization".

Erdal Kuzu, lawyer of the four arrested teachers, said that his clients' arrest was based on Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law. Kuzu also noted that the other reason stated by the court was the commemoration ceremony for Uğur Kaymaz. The lawyer also mentioned that footage of the police did not even show slogans or applauding. (EKN/VK)