Öz Sağlık İşçileri Sendikası
Mr. Fehmi Azboy who is one of our Union’s Executive Board Members participated in a press release and solidarity activity which was organised by our superstructure that is the HAK-IS Trade Union Confederation in Ankara, capital city of Türkiye, on April 29th, 2026.
The press release and solidarity activity was conducted by the HAK-İŞ Confederation in front of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy premises in Ankara in order to draw attention to the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing civil war in Sudan and to protest the massacres, particularly in El-Fashir city which is the capital of North Darfur region of Sudan.
The solidarity meeting with Sudan and as well as a protest activity against the UAE held in front of the UAE Embassy premises with the participation of Mr. Mahmut Arslan that is the HAK-İŞ Confederation President together with Dr. Abdulkadir Sirrulhatme that is President of the Sudanese Workers’ Trade Union Federation (SWTUF) , Mr. Yunus Değirmenci, Mr. Halil Özdemir, and Mr. Mehmet Ali Kayabaşı that are the HAK-İŞ Vice-Presidents, Mr. Fehmi Azboy that is our union of the Öz Sağlık-İş Health and Social Services Workers’ Union, Mrs. Eda Akbulut that is the HAK-İŞ General Secretary; other sectorial union presidents and executives of HAK-İŞ affiliates; our union’s branch presidents and board members; our members; and the press and media staff.
During the protest, a few banners covering specific messages such as “UAE, keep your hands off Sudan”, “HAK-İŞ stands in solidarity with Sudan” were demonstrated and slogans such as “UAE, Get out of Sudan”, “HAK-İŞ and SWTUF stand shoulder to shoulder”, “HAK-İŞ is here with Sudan”, and “Long Live Our Solidarity with Sudan” were chanted.
MR. ARSLAN: CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST HUMANITY IN EL-FASHIR
Mr. Mahmut Arslan who is the HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation President emphasized their long-standing solidarity against the coup processes and subsequent pressures on trade unions in Sudan by highlighting the long-standing relationship between HAK-İŞ and SWTUF. Mr. Arslan stated that the cost/price of every coup has been paid most heavily by the workers and the civilians in every country including Sudan.
Mr. Arslan defined that the attacks, particularly in the El-Fashir city, have turned into a systematic massacre, targeting civilians and resulting in grave human rights violations. He expressed that there were shameful attacks against women, children, and civilians in the said region. He concluded his speech by underlining that HAK-İŞ has stood by our brothers and sisters, and it would continue to do so.
PROTESTED THE ROLE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IN SUDAN
By clarifying the fundamental reason for the protest action, Mr. Arslan drew attention to the role of the United Arab Emirates in the Sudan conflicts. He pointed out that UAE was harming the Sudanese people through proxy forces which have been seeking to seize Sudan’s underground resources by destabilizing the country through mercenaries.” Mr. Arslan also called the international community for taking action against this situation and to having UAE be accountable for its role.
Following the speeches, Mr. Mahmut Arslan, the HAK-İŞ President, Mr. Abdülkadir Sırrulhatme, the SWTUF President, other high level executives of HAK-İŞ Confederation and its sectorial affiliates including our Union’s Vice-President that is Mr. Fehmi Azboy and Mrs. Eda Akbulut, the HAK-İŞ General Secretary laid a black wreath, on which the message of “UAE, keep your hands off Sudan” was placed, in front of the United Arab Emirates Embassy premises.
MR. SIRRULHATME: WORKERS ARE PAYING THE HEAVIEST PRICE
Dr. Abdulkadir Sirrulhatme that is President of the Sudanese Workers’ Trade Union Federation (SWTUF) stated that the conflict in Sudan, which has lasted for over a year, has brought the economic and social structure to the brink of collapse by resulting in thousands of workers losing their jobs and income. By noting that the production and service sectors have largely come to a standstill and the infrastructure has been severely damaged, Mr. Sirrulhatme said that workers were facing not only an economic but also a humanitarian crisis in the region.
By drawing attention to the attacks in El-Fashir where is the capital of the Darfur region, Mr. Sirrulhatme emphasized that civilians were targeted and that this constituted a clear violation of international law. He explained that innocent people, including workers and their families, were subjected to severe attacks, and demanded the strongest condemnation of these crimes.
In brief, the El-Fashir massacre, occurring in February-2026, is part of the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region and has been described by the United Nations investigators as exhibiting ‘hallmarks of genocide.’ Evidence points to mass killings and ethnic targeting, with tens of thousands displaced. Despite claims denying large-scale violence, independent fact-finding missions have documented systematic atrocities. The events underscore the deepening humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for international accountability and intervention.
