SES union members released from detention

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Detained for eight days, the members and former executives of the Health and Social Service Laborers' Union (SES), including SES Co-Chair Selma Atabey, appeared before the judge at the Ankara Courthouse yesterday (June 1) and have been released from detention.

In addition to Atabey, former SES Co-Chair Gönül Erden, former Chair Bedriye Yorgun, former Central Executive Board members Fikret Çalayan and Belkıs Yurtsever, former SES Ankara Branch Co-Chair Runa Temelli and Ankara Branch executives Erdal Turan and Ramazan Taş were taken into custody in operations to their houses in the morning on May 25.

Releasing a statement about the investigation, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made an allegation of "Public Health Committee" of the outlawed Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK). It was argued that "eight people were suspected of acting under the name of the so-called 'public health committee' within the social structure of the KCK/ Turkey Desk."

Upon the call of the SES Ankara Branch, health laborers met in front of the Ankara Court; however, their press statement was not allowed by the police and they were forced to leave the courthouse. (KÖ/SD)