The head of a Turkish textile workers’ union was detained Sunday, March 15, 2026, following a police search of his home. The move comes amid a labor dispute with a major textile manufacturer and raises questions about freedom of expression for union leaders.
Mehmet Türkmen, the chairman of Birleşik Tekstil Dokuma ve Deri İşçileri Sendikası (BİRTEK-SEN), was taken into custody on allegations of “inciting hatred and animosity among the public,” according to reports. The charges stem from a speech Türkmen delivered during a protest by workers at Sırma Halı, a textile company.
“ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONFISCATED”
BİRTEK-SEN announced on social media that all of Türkmen’s electronic devices were confiscated during the search.
The union stated in a social media post:
Genel Başkanımız Mehmet Türkmen Sırma Halı önünde yaptığı konuşma gerekçe gösterilerek evi aranıyor.
Bütün elektronik eşyalarına el konuluyor. pic.twitter.com/F8McOSLt4Q
— BİRTEK-SEN (@birlesiktekstil) March 15, 2026
The detention follows a work stoppage at Sırma Halı, where approximately 400 workers began protesting on March 9 after experiencing delays and insufficient wage increases. Türkmen, during a rally on March 15, criticized the company and those in power, stating, “They are boasting about their generosity since the beginning of Ramadan. Those who sit at the tables of the poor are the ones who make the workers dependent on dry bread.”
Authorities have not yet announced when Türkmen will be formally charged or when he might be released. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between labor organizations and employers in Turkey.
