In his speech at the July 15 program organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan stated that HAK-İŞ stands by the national will against all coups and coup attempts and said, "The most important value that July 15 has brought us is to preserve our unity throughout the country."

HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan, in his speech at the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day program organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, stated that HAK-İŞ stands by the national will against all coups and coup attempts from past to present and said, "We will not forget July 15, we will not let it be forgotten."

Arslan stated that the July 15 commemoration events should not be limited to official programs only, and pointed out the importance of all public institutions and non-governmental organizations contributing to this process with similar activities. Stating that unions and non-governmental organizations in Türkiye have passed important tests against coups, Arslan said that HAK-İŞ has taken a determined stance against all coups and coup attempts, including the e-memorandum of September 12, February 28, April 27 and July 15.

"Our doors were locked on September 12"

Reminding that HAK-İŞ's activities were stopped in the September 12 coup, its assets were confiscated and union activities were banned, Arslan stated that they did not surrender to the coup plotters despite all the pressure. Arslan stated that they sided with the democratically elected government during the February 28 process and that they paid various prices for this reason.

Emphasizing that July 15 was different from other coups, Arslan stated that for the first time that night, all segments of society united around the national will and said, "The most important value that July 15 brought us is to preserve our unity throughout the country."

Stating that he was at the L20 meeting held in China during the coup attempt, Arslan said that as HAK-İŞ management, they issued a statement against the coup at night and invited citizens to the squares.

Explaining that they were contacted by Türksat on the night of the coup, Arslan stated that the coup plotters tried to send a technical team to the facility in order to interrupt the broadcasts. Stating that the coup plotters were prevented from entering Türksat as a result of the contact established with the Minister of Internal Affairs of the period, Arslan said that in this way, interruption of broadcasts was prevented. Arslan also paid tribute to Ahmet Özsoy and Ali Karslı, who were martyred while working at Türksat, and HAK-İŞ members who were martyred around the Presidential Complex and the General Staff.

"HAK-İŞ has 4 martyrs and approximately 50 veterans"

Stating that HAK-İŞ members came to the squares upon the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Arslan noted that there were 4 martyrs and approximately 50 veterans within the confederation, and a total of 10 families of martyrs, including the relatives of the martyrs.

Stating that they are following the July 15 cases closely, Arslan stated that the defendants did not show remorse during the hearings and said that the threat posed by FETO continues. Arslan said, "We must not forget that these traitors are waiting for an opportunity. We must consider the issue not just as a coup attempt, but as a major threat to the future of Türkiye."

"Our President's leadership was decisive"

Emphasizing that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership played an important role in suppressing the coup attempt, Arslan also stated that manipulative news against Türkiye was published in the international press on the night of the coup.

Stating that the greatest expectation of martyrs' families and veterans is to be remembered, Arslan said, "Our state provides the necessary support, but our martyrs' relatives and veterans do not want to be forgotten by the nation. Their only expectation is to be visited and remembered from time to time."

At the end of his speech, Arslan wished God's mercy to all the July 15 martyrs and the martyrs who lost their lives for the sake of the country, and wished a healthy and peaceful life to the veterans, and wished that the July 15 commemoration events would be continued with wider participation in the coming years. - ANKARA