The prosecutor at a trial hearing in Ankara on 10 April released pending trial 22 Turkish trade unionists on the grounds that there was no reason for their continued detention.
The next trial hearing is scheduled for 8 July.
The trade unionists were detained on 25 June 2012 in one of several operations targeting members of trade unions affiliated to the public sector union confederation KESK, which peacefully supports the basic rights of Kurds. On that day, 72 union activists were arrested during early morning police raids and have been in custody ever since on unsubstantiated terrorism-related charges. They include Yunus Akil, former president of ITF-affiliated public transport union BTS, and BTS international affairs officer Osman Isci.
Commenting on the decision, ITF acting general secretary Stephen Cotton declared: "It is obviously very good news that Yunus Akil, Osman Isci and the other detained trade unionists have been released from prison. They and their families have suffered unjustly for over nine months.
“But we must continue to be vigilant as the groundless charges against them remain and the trial continues.
“The ITF and other trade unions and federations, some of whom travelled to Ankara to observe the trial hearing, have supported the detainees and urged their release from the start. We will keep up the pressure. And we will continue to call on the Turkish state to live up to its obligations, as a member of the international community, and to guarantee the respect of trade union rights and all human rights in Turkey."
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