The threats against Şener Elcil, General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Trade Union (KTÖS) raised by AKEL before the European Commission
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 6th November 2020, Nicosia
AKEL, through its MEP’s, Giorgos Georgiou and Niyazi Kizilyurek, raised today before the European Commission the threats the trade union of Turkish Cypriot teachers KTÖS and its General Secretary Şener Elcil in particular are receiving from the Turkish government and E.Tatar, because of the criticism they have made against the new Turkish Cypriot leader, but also against the political intervention of the Turkish Government in the internal affairs of the Turkish Cypriot community, especially during the recent vote for a Turkish Cypriot leader.
More specifically, the AKEL MEP’s addressed the European Commission on an urgency procedure, informing that Omer Celik, representative of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party AKP, after strongly criticizing Şener Elcil, indicating that political and legal measures would be taken against him, called on its supporters to denounce and protest against KTÖS, thus endangering the safety of both Sener Elçil and the members of KTÖS, but also of other democratic Turkish Cypriots.
Taking into account the Turkish government’s attempt to silence, intimidate and target, the MEP’s of AKEL called on the European Commission to give a reply as to what measures it intends to take to protect the trade unionists of KTÖS and Şener Elcil, who was awarded the European Citizen’s Prize in 2016.
The AKEL MEP’s also sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, as well as to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, informing them of the serious developments and demanding the immediate condemnation of Turkey’s threatening actions, as well as the expression of practical solidarity towards the trade union of Turkish Cypriot teachers and S. Elcil.
