NASUWT, the teachers’ union, stands in unwavering solidarity with our colleagues in Turkey and strongly condemns the continued harassment, criminalisation and repression of education trade unionists, particularly members of our sister union Eğitim Sen.

Recent reports from Education International (EI) have highlighted the arrest and prosecution of Eğitim Sen members for their legitimate trade union and democratic activities.

These attacks are part of a wider pattern of state-led repression that has persisted since the aftermath of the failed 2016 coup attempt, during which thousands of teachers and union activists were unjustly dismissed, detained or silenced.

The targeting of Eğitim Sen is a blatant violation of international human rights standards, including International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98, which Turkey is bound to uphold.

The criminalisation of peaceful advocacy for public education, democracy and trade union rights must end.

Matt Wrack, NASUWT Acting General Secretary, said, ‘Teachers should never be treated as enemies of the state for standing up for democracy, equality and quality education.

‘The Turkish Government must immediately stop persecuting trade unionists and engage in meaningful dialogue with unions to uphold the rights and freedoms of educators.

We call on the UK Government, the British and international trade union movement and the wider international community to raise these violations with the Turkish authorities and to support the rights of workers everywhere to organise and speak out without fear.’

NASUWT continues to campaign internationally for the protection of trade union rights and democratic freedoms.

We will work with global partners to ensure that the voices of Turkish educators are not silenced and that the principles of justice, dignity and democracy are defended in Turkey and around the world.