KESK Protests in Front of the Ministry of Justice: "Enough is Enough! We Want Our Jobs and Rights Back"

ANKARA - The Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK) organized a press statement in front of the Ministry of Justice in Ankara for its members who were dismissed from their jobs by the State of Emergency Decree Laws (KHK). KESK members and members of parliament gathered under the slogan "Enough is Enough! We want our jobs, our bread, our rights back!" and demanded an end to 8 years of victimization.

"2,521 KESK Public Workers Not Reinstated"

Speaking at the press statement, KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz said that 2,521 KESK public workers have still not been reinstated, more than 8 years after the state of emergency declared after the July 15 coup attempt. Karagöz said, "Our search for justice against the unlawfulness and arbitrariness we have been subjected to from the very beginning continues."

Saying that KESK had requested an appointment with the Minister of Justice weeks ago but had not received a response, Karagöz said that for this reason they had moved the stop of their search for justice to the Ministry of Justice. Karagöz said, "We are here to express once again the victimization we have been experiencing for 8 years, to say give us back our jobs and rights that were unlawfully taken away from us."

The Struggle Will Continue "Until the Last Decree Law Member Returns to Work"

KESK's Co-General President gave a message of determination by saying, "We will continue our struggle until the last member with a state of emergency decree returns to his job with all his rights." He emphasized that the emergency decrees were described as "a blessing from God" and that union rights and freedoms were ignored in this process.

Parliamentarians from the CHP and DEM Party were among those who supported the demonstration. The press statement criticized the unlawfulness of the State of Emergency Commission and judicial processes. KESK members argued that they were dismissed from their jobs on grounds such as examining their social media accounts and secret witness testimonies, and that these are "freak concepts" that have no place in any legal system.