Miners Detained in Ankara Protest Over Unpaid Wages

Miners demanding unpaid wages, severance pay, and insurance benefits have been protesting in Ankara for 16 days. The workers, employed by mines under Yıldızlar SSS Holding, arrived in the capital seeking to resolve their long-standing financial grievances.

The protest has centered outside the Energy Ministry, where the miners vowed to continue their vigil through the night. Their persistence highlights the ongoing struggle for fair compensation and the precarious conditions faced by many in the mining sector.

During the ongoing demonstration, police intervened and detained four individuals, including Başaran Aksu, an organizing specialist for the Independent Miners' Union. Aksu has been previously detained in connection with this protest; he was arrested on the eighth day of the demonstration along with the union's general president, Gökay Çakır, and released the following day, August 18, 2026.

The detentions underscore the tensions between the protesting workers and authorities. Images of the arrests were shared on the union's social media accounts, drawing attention to the miners' plight and the response from law enforcement.