Selma Atabey, co-chair of the Health and Social Service Workers’ Union (SES), was arrested on Monday upon an order by a court in Ankara, Turkey, Mezopotamya Agency reported.
Atabey, along with seven other SES executive members, have been faced with a lawsuit on accusations of ‘managing a terrorist organisation’ and ‘making propaganda’.
An Ankara court, after hearing defence statements by lawyers, issued an arrest warrant for the SES co-chair Atabey, and for SES member Gönül Erden to be remanded in custody.
Representatives of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK), officials of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Batman (Êlih) deputy Necdet İpekyüz were present at the court hearing session.
SES was established on 1 August 1996 through a merger of three trade unions. It advocates for free and quality universal health coverage.