Turkish police detained two union officials and a lawyer in the southern city of Antalya on Tuesday, six days before it hosts a major United Nations climate summit, the Medyascope news website reported.
The detainees were identified as İlhan Karakurt, head of the Antalya branch of the Municipal and Local Government Workers Union (Tüm Bel-Sen) and a local spokesperson for the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK); Mehmet Şerif Özdemir, an official at the All Retirees Union (Tüm Emekli-Sen) and the Human Rights Association (İHD); and Kazım Yiğit, a lawyer and Antalya branch official at the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD).
Police counterterrorism units raided their homes early Tuesday and took them to police headquarters in Antalya’s Uncalı district. Authorities had not disclosed the reasons for the detentions, while the İHD said a court order had restricted access to the investigation files.
The Antalya branch of the İHD condemned the detentions, accusing authorities of attempting to criminalize human rights advocacy, union activities and the work of defense lawyers. The association demanded the immediate release of all three detainees.
Tüm Bel-Sen also condemned the operation, saying the detention of its local leader was intended to intimidate organized labor and political opposition.
The union said the operation had been characterized as part of security preparations for the upcoming climate summit, although authorities have not publicly confirmed any connection between the detentions and the event.
Following the raids Kadir Öztürk, head of the Antalya branch of the Eğitim-Sen education workers union, and other union members gathered outside police headquarters as lawyers sought information about the detainees.
The detentions come ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20. The annual summit brings together world leaders, government negotiators, scientists and civil society organizations to discuss international efforts to address climate change.
Local labor unions and civil society organizations have announced plans for a November 14 march and rally in Antalya under the slogan “We Defend Life Against COP31.” The demonstration will precede a separate People’s Climate Summit organized by environmental and civil society groups critical of existing climate policies.
The detentions come amid longstanding concerns about restrictions on freedom of assembly and union activities in Turkey.
In April Turkish police detained nearly 40 people, including labor union members, journalists and opposition figures, ahead of May 1 International Workers Day demonstrations. Rights groups criticized those detentions as part of broader restrictions on peaceful protest and political activism.
