Öz Sağlık İşçileri Sendikası
MR. DEVLET SERT, OUR UNION PRESIDENT AND THE HAK-IS CONFEDERATION ACTIVE PRESIDENT, MADE AN APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: “MR. MAHMUT ARSLAN IS, HAK-IS PRESIDENT, OUR DIGNITY. MR. ARSLAN AND MRS. FATMA ZENGIN MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY”
Mr. Sert called on the international community, particularly global trade union movement to act immediately following the detention of HAK-İŞ President Mr. Mahmut Arslan and Deputy General Secretary Mrs. Fatma Zengin by Israeli forces during the interception in international waters of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was bound for Gaza to provide humanitarian support.
The unlawful detention of all activists of the Sumud Flotilla, including Mr. Mahmut Arslan who is President of our Confederation and Mrs. Fatma Zengin that is Deputy General Secretary by the Zionist State of Israel in international waters was protested in front of the HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation headquarters in Ankara on May 19, 2026.
Mr. Sert, Our Union President and the HAK-İŞ Active President, addressed the audience in front of the HAK-İŞ head office by calling for immediate release of Mr. Mahmut Arslan and Mrs. Fatma Zengin and (by) emphasizing that “Mr. Mahmut Arslan is our honour and Mrs. Fatma Zengin is not alone. Zionist Israel has been continuing its barbarity by wounding consciences for years. With both trade union leaders of HAK-İŞ Confederation are now under Israeli military detention, we are gravely concerned for their physical safety, psychological well-being, whereabouts, and legal rights.”
Mr. Mehmet Ali Kayabaşı that is one of HAK-İŞ Confederation Vice-Presidents and Mrs. Eda Akbulut that the HAK-İŞ Confederation General Secretary also participated into the press conference together with Mr. İsmail Öztürk, Mr. Emre Kocaman, Mr. Muhammet Esat Eyvaz and Mr. Fehmi Azboy that are our union Executive Board Members and Vice-Presidents, Mr. Fadlı Erdem who is the Öz Sağlık-İş Union General Secretary, Mr. Yavuz Aksanoğlu that is the Öz Sağlık-İş Deputy General Secretary as well as other sectorial union presidents and executives; our union’s branch presidents and board members; hundreds of workers including other union members, and the press and media staff.
ZIONIST ISRAEL PROTESTED WITH APPLAUSE AND SLOGANS
The Great HAK-İŞ community which gathered in front of the HAK-İŞ Headquarters united in support of President Mahmut Arslan and Deputy General Secretary Fatma Zengin. HAK-İŞ members protested the illegal intervention of the Zionist Israeli State with slogans such as “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea,” “Down with Israeli Tyranny,” “Mahmut Arslan is Our Honour,” “Fatma Zengin is not Alone,” “The People of Gaza Are Not Alone,” “Killer Israel, Get Out of Palestine,” “Greetings to SUMUD, Continue the Resistance,” and “Zionist Israel Will Be Held Accountable”.
MR. SERT: ATTACKS AGAINST THE DIGNITY AND CONSCIENCE OF HUMANITY AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE
The press statement was delivered by Mr. Devlet Sert that is Active President of HAK-İŞ Confederation and President of our Union which is the Öz Sağlık-İş Health and Social Services Workers Syndicate by underlining that “These attacks of Zionist Israel are against the dignity and conscience of humanity and the right to life of oppressed peoples.”
Mr. Sert continued his press statement by attracting attention to the following points:
“Today, we have gathered here not only to condemn the attack on an aid flotilla (Sumud Fleet), but also to condemn an organised attack against the dignity of humanity, conscience, law, and the right to life of oppressed peoples.
The detention of trade union leaders and activists participating in a peaceful humanitarian mission in solidarity with Palestinian people is barely unacceptable. Humanitarian solidarity must never be met with arrest, detention, or force.
As the HAK-İŞ Confederation, we strongly condemn this unlawful attack and intervention against the global SUMUD Flotilla which set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. We precisely recall on the world to lift the blockade to Gaza, and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people.
Those attacks of zionist and occupier Israel are absolutely against civilian ships that had been sailing in international waters and carrying only humanitarian aid volunteers and aid materials. This is a clear violation of law, a grave attack on human rights, and an act of piracy in international waters.
The brutal Netanyahu and his cruel government have already been convicted of its attacks targeting women, children, and civilians in Gaza in the conscience of humanity. Today, Zionist Israel and its government have once again shown its barbarity to the whole world due to its obstruction of humanitarian aid missions to Gaza.”
Mr. Sert recalled the relevant resolution(*) of the HAK-İŞ Congress which revealed that HAK-İŞ considers it as a humanitarian and conscientious duty to stand by those who are aggrieved, oppressed and in need of help, to organise aid campaigns and to be in solidarity with them. HAK-İŞ believes that those who are oppressed and victimised in our country, region and globe are in our debt. It considers it a duty to organise aid campaigns for all the oppressed and victims regardless of language, religion and race.
Mr. Arslan has set out for Gaza to represent HAK-İŞ’s struggle for labour, conscience, and justice. The stance taken by our President is not merely a trade union responsibility; it is a historic march of conscience in defense of human dignity. As Mr. Arslan stated in his call from the Kasr-ı Sadabat ship, this struggle is not merely a relief effort. This struggle is humanity’s fight to rise again. This is a march of conscience. This journey is a struggle to uphold human dignity. This march is an act of will to tell our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who are fighting for survival under siege: You are not alone.
We call once more on the international community, all states and organisations to act on their own assessment and findings of violations, and advance immediate and effective sanctions, including the full suspension of all treaties with Israel.
In line with the previous statements of the HAK-İŞ Confederation, we fully support the growing commitment of governments to recognise the State of Palestine. We call on all countries and international organisations to take vital steps towards achieving a democratic and sovereign Palestine, recognised by the international community, living in just and lasting peace. The international community must uphold these same values through urgent action to protect detained trade unionists and human rights activists and defend fundamental rights and international law.”
We call once more the international community, especially the global trade union movement to use all tools available to ensure the safety and rights of all trade unionists including Mr. Mahmut Arslan and Mrs. Fatma Zengin and all human right activists detained by the Israeli authorities, establish their exact whereabouts and condition, and secure their immediate and unconditional release.”
Mr. Sert concluded his speech by pointing out the following remarks:
“Standing with the oppressed is not a choice, but a human duty. We send our greetings to our President Mahmut Arslan, our Deputy General Secretary Fatma Zengin, and all volunteers of conscience who have taking active roles in the global Sumud flotilla.
As the HAK-İŞ Confederation, one of Türkiye’s largest trade union confederations, we stand with them through our prayers, our struggle, and our solidarity.
Long live human solidarity. Long live the struggle for a free Palestine. Down with oppression, long live justice.”
Following the press statement, the crowd gathered in front of the HAK-İŞ Confederation headquarters protested the zionist Israeli and its barbar attacks on Sumud Flotilla with applause and whistles.
(*): Those resolutions, totally 98, adopted at the 15th Ordinary General Assembly (Congress) of HAK-İŞ Confederation held on 11-12 May 2023 reveal the vision and road map of HAK-İŞ Confederation for the period of 2023-2027. Resolution 98: HAK-IS WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BY THE VICTIMISED AND OPPRESSED: HAK-İŞ considers it as a humanitarian and conscientious duty to stand by those who are aggrieved, oppressed and in need of help, to organise aid campaigns and to be in solidarity with them. HAK-İŞ believes that those who are oppressed and victimised in our country, region and globe are in our debt. It considers it a duty to organise aid campaigns for all the oppressed and victims regardless of language, religion and race. HAK-İŞ draws attention to the importance of extending a helping hand to the victims, the oppressed and those in need of assistance due to natural disasters, wars, famine, droughts, epidemics, etc. throughout the world as an institution, together with various non-governmental organisations, labour organisations and public institutions, to the extent of their means. … In the future, HAK-İŞ will continue its efforts to increase and expand its donations to the countries in need.
