Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) Conference – Turkey under the state of emergency

SPOT conference “Turkey under the state of emergency” on 20 January 2018 at 09:30 – 16:15.

This conference is supported by the National Education Union (NEU), who will be hosting us at the NEU / NUT Headquarters, Hamilton House, Mabledon Pl, Kings Cross, London WC1H 9BD

The event will provide an update on some of the biggest issues facing democratic forces in Turkey and workshops on how we can better campaign for change.

We have a great line up of speakers on the day; including Louise Regan (NEU Co-president), Ken Loach (Filmmaker), Fatih Polat (Editor of Evrensel), Seyit Aslan (General Secretary of GIDA-IS), Owen Jones (The Guardian), Kemal Goktas (Cumhuriyet Journalist), Kate Osamor (Labour MP), David Lammy (Labour MP), Hisyar Ozsoy (HDP MP), Mehmet Tum (CHP MP), Simon Dubbins (Unite the Union), Kani Beko (President of DISK), Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition), Esra Ozyurek (LSE), Mustafa Yalciner (Writer), Aydin Cubukcu (Author) and many more.

We very much hope you will be available to join us on 20 January 2018.

Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT)

Register Here

Programme for the day.

09:30 – Registration and Refreshments

10:00 – Turkey under the state of emergency

Chair: Louise Regan, NEU Co-President
Ken Loach, Filmmaker / Seyit Aslan*, General Secretary of GIDA-IS / Fatih Polat*, Chief Editor of Evrensel Daily / Mehves Evin, Journalist / Steve Sweeney, Morning Star 

11:30 – Workshops Part I

  • Workshop 1. Fighting for the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn – how to show solidarity with scholars at risk?
    Chair: Mehmet Ugur, BAK UK
    Joanna De Groot, President of UCU / Assoc. Prof. Ceren Sozeri / Assoc. Prof. Esra Ozyurek, LSE
  • Workshop 2. Declining women’s human rights and gender inequality – how to strengthen the women’s resistance?
    Chair: Cinar Altun, Day-Mer
    Mehves Evin, Journalist / Owen Jones, The Guardian / Ceylan Begum Yildiz, Academic / Sarya Tunc, Women’s rights activist,
  • Workshop 3. Political representation and role of parliament
    Chair: Oktay Sahbaz, SPOT
    Kate Osamor, Labour MP (Invited) / Mustafa Yalciner*, Writer / Mehmet Tum*, CHP MP / Hisyar Ozsoy* HDP MP / Israfil Erbil, President of British Alevi Federation

12:30 – Lunch

13:30 -Workshops Part II

  • Workshop 4. Attacks on workers and trade unions
    Chair: Elena Crasta, TUC
    Kani Beko*, President of DISK / Simon Dubbins, Unite / Seyit Aslan*, General Secretary of GIDA-IS / Ian Hodson, President of BFAWU
  • Workshop 5. What next for Turkey in the Middle East and the Kurdish question?
    Chair: Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition (STWC)
    Aydin Cubukcu*, Author / Hisyar Ozsoy* HDP MP / Thomas J Miley, Academic / Andrew Smith, Campaign Against Arms Trade
  • Workshop 6. Journalism & the role of media.
    Chair: Ege Dundar, PEN
    Fatih Polat*, Chief Editor of Evrensel / Barry White, Journalist / Kemal Goktas*, Journalist Cumhuriyet / Kumru Basar, Journalist / Steve Sweeney, Morning Star

14:30 – Tea/Coffee Break

14:45 – Final Session – Campaigning to win change

Chair: Christine Blower, SPOT Spokesperson
Mehmet Tum*, CHP MP / Kate Osamor, Labour MP (Invited) / Hisyar Ozsoy*, HDP MP / David Lammy, Labour MP (Invited) / Kani Beko* President of DISK / Ian Hodson, President of BAFWU / Fatih Polat*, Chief Editor of Evrensel Daily / Cagdas Canbolat, SPOT

16:15 – Event Close

*Simultaneous translation will be provided