UNISON declared its solidarity with victimised workers in Turkey yesterday and demanded the Turkish government release all political prisoners.

Moving a motion at the union’s annual conference in Brighton, South Lanarkshire Unison delegate Margaret Gallagher condemned the Turkish government for labelling trade unionists “enemies of the state” and writing off the Kurdish ethnic minority as “terrorists.”

Referencing the motion’s call to end the repression of Turkish Kurds, Ms Gallagher said the government’s open prejudice has led to the easy erosion of human rights in the country.

She also specifically called for the release of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, who “millions of Kurds view as their political leader.

“This is one of the main barriers to peace that has been created by the dictator Erdogan.”

Unison NEC member Paul Glover pointed out that Turkey is one of the 10 worst countries in the world for workers’ rights, with over 120,000 Turkish public-sector workers having been “arbitrarily dismissed” by the current government and thousands of journalists facing jail time.

He said: “Workers’ demonstrations have been met by tear gas and batons, while progressive trade unions are state enemy No 1.

“Meanwhile, Theresa May travels over there to sign arms deals, remaining totally silent on human rights.

“Our government is supplying arms to a repressive regime which uses those same arms on its own people.”

The motion also called for the British government to support the resettlement of Turkish political prisoners to Britain, should they wish to claim refugee status.