Twenty two KESK (Confederation of Public Workers' Unions) trade unionists were released yesterday following the first hearing of the case against 72 executives and members of the Confederation.

Seventy two unionist, included the general president, Lami Özgen, who appeared in court yesterday were taken into custody as a result of the "KCK/Democratic Labor Platform" operation which was carried out in the provinces of Ankara, Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Ağrı, Bitlis, Siirt, Adana and Eskişehir on 25 June 2012. Twenty two among the unionists who all had been accused of alleged ties with the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) have been under arrest since the operation.

The first self-defense during the hearing was made by KESK President Lami Özgen who pointed out that all unionists had been taken into custody in an unlawful way and, that all activities of the Confederation were considered to be illegal by the court.

Özgen called attention to the Confederation's sensitivity towards the Kurdish question, adding, “We are standing against the policy of denial and we believe we will make a contribution to the solution of the Kurdish issue. Kurds are intended to be pushed into an illegal position in the union struggle just like in all areas. This is an unlawful approach and practice which has made unionists, journalists, students, politicians and workers become a target. We are being tried in connection with the Kurdish identity we support and defend”.

Özgen said they didn't accept the accusations of organizing union activities in line with the instructions of the KCK organization. “Kurds take place in the trade union movement with their own identity since 1989. It is not only KESK members but also all democratic powers that stand trial in this unlawful case”, he noted.

Özgen's defense was followed by those of other defendants who also pointed out that the accusations directed against them were incompatible with laws. Seven unionists defended themselves in their mother tongue Kurdish through an interpreter.