FREEDOM of expression in Turkey went on trial again today with a trade union leader facing jail after calling for a democratic change in government at an opposition party meeting nearly three years ago.

Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey president Arzu Cerkezoglu faces three years in prison for a speech she gave on a panel discussion organised by Turkey’s People’s Republican Party (CHP) in June 2016.

Ms Cerkezoglu was charged by the public prosecutor for “provoking hatred and hostility” after calling for a change in the system and government, opposing constitutional changes that handed increased powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A referendum was held on the proposals in April 2017 with allegations of fraud and vote rigging, including the supreme electoral board’s decision to allow 2.5 million unstamped ballot papers to be counted, swinging the outcome in Mr Erdogan’s favour.

Ms Cerkezoglu told the court that this was an issue of freedom of speech and freedom of expression which should not be judged in a court room, demanding her acquittal.

International observers, including those from the ETUC, ITUC, UNI Global and Tommy Murphy from Unite gathered at the Istanbul court in solidarity with Ms Cerkezoglu.

She told the court that Turkey had become a country where “ideas are questioned and punished” in the courts, particularly those that oppose the authoritarian regime presided over by the increasingly dictatorial Mr Erdogan.

“It is not a crime to say that the system and the regime should change, it is an idea,” Ms Cerkezoglu said.

“However, in this country, many journalists, academics, politicians, trade unionists, professionals, leaders of democratic mass organisations and even coffee-drinking citizens and young people tweeting face the police, prosecutor and judge when they express ideas that the regime does not like.”

Trade unions face severe pressure in Turkey, where strikes were banned under the state of emergency that lasted for just over two years following a failed coup attempt in July 2016. 

Last year hundreds that took strike action at Istanbul’s flagship new airport were tear gassed after walking out over safety issues and dragged out of their dormitory beds to prison cells after being branded terrorists by Turkish authorities. 

Ms Cerkezoglu argued that Turkey must become a democratic and egalitarian society in line with international law, including the relevant ILO conventions.

But she warned that the fact that she was being charged showed just how necessary the criticism of the government was.

“The indictment considers freedom of expression a crime. Freedom of expression is a constitutional and universal right," she said.

The case was adjourned until June 9.