BİRTEK-SEN Chair Mehmet Türkmen, who was detained yesterday, was referred to court with a request for his arrest. The court ruled for his formal arrest.

Mehmet Türkmen’s home was raided by the gendarmerie yesterday due to a speech he delivered during a protest by Sırma Halı workers taking action for their rights. Türkmen's electronic devices were confiscated. He was detained on the allegation of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility".

The prosecution referred Türkmen, who was brought to the courthouse in the morning hours, to the court with a request for his arrest. The court issued the arrest warrant.

Workers at Sırma Halı, owned by Şireci, who have not received their increased wages for months, were unpaid for the last month, and whose wages are paid late every pay period, stopped work on 9 March and held a press statement at Balıklı Square on 13 March. Speaking after the workers, Mehmet Türkmen, Chair of the United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers' Union (BİRTEK-SEN), had said: "Workers have not been receiving their wages regularly for months. They are not asking for more; they just want their wages paid on time. In return, they receive threatening messages. If workers fail to pay a bill for one day, interest is added, but the money paid late to the worker is the same amount. The ones who created this country, who carry it on their backs, are the workers in the factories. Pay the workers' overtime and wage differences immediately. Stop threatening the workers. Learn to treat workers like human beings."

He was detained and arrested following a complaint by the Şireci boss.

During the protests in February 2025 against the imposition of low wages in Başpınar, Türkmen was also detained and released, but was later arrested by the court on allegations of "violation of the freedom to work" and "incitement to commit a crime". Türkmen was held in prison for 36 days and was released on 24 March 2025 under house arrest. The house arrest order against Türkmen was lifted on 17 April.

Reactions against the decision

The request for Mehmet Türkmen’s arrest drew significant backlash. Statements noting that the arrest request targets the union struggle called for Türkmen’s immediate release.