Emniyet Teşkilatı Sendikası calls nationwide strike after police suicides

police suicide rate pensioner protests Emniyet Teşkilatı Sendikası economic crisis Turkey seyyanen zam

A series of suicides within the Turkish police force has prompted a nationwide work stoppage by the Emniyet Teşkilatı Sendikası. The union announced that seven members of the force committed suicide within a five-day period, citing severe economic and social hardships, difficult working conditions, and inequality in personal rights.

The crisis gained significant attention following the death of Ali Şekeroğlu, a 60-year-old retired police officer. Şekeroğlu died after attempting suicide during a protest in front of the Constitutional Court in Ankara. The demonstration was organized by retirees to demand a flat-rate increase (seyyanen zam) for civil servant retirees, similar to the increase granted to active civil servants in 2023.

In addition to the retired officer, several active-duty officers in Ankara, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, and Kocaeli also died by suicide during the same period. The union has called for a nationwide strike on Monday, September 28, to protest these losses and demand structural changes, including the implementation of the Emniyet Meslek Kanunu and improvements to the 3600 additional indicator regulation.

Entities

Ali Şekeroğlu · Anayasa Mahkemesi · Ankara · CHP · Constitutional Court · Constitutional Court of Turkey · DİSK · Ekrem İmamoğlu · Emniyet Teşkilatı Sendikası · KESK · Police Force Union · Türkiye

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 9 SOURCES] The Union called for improvements to social, cultural, and economic rights and the implementation of a professional law for police. dokuz8haber.net · www.gazetepencere.com · www.tigrishaber.com · www.gazetezebra.com.tr · www.izgazete.net · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] In 2026, 68 law enforcement members had committed suicide as of the reported date. boldmedya.com · www.odatv.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The protest in Ankara was held to demand a flat-rate increase (seyyanen zam) for civil servant retirees. www.trabzonhabermerkezi.com · www.korkusuz.com.tr · www.guncelegitim.com · www.hamlegazetesi.com.tr · www.yesilafsin.com · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] In 2025, 82 active-duty police officers committed suicide. boldmedya.com · www.odatv.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Five police officers and retirees committed suicide in a short period across Ankara, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, and Kocaeli. www.akishaber.com.tr · tr.shafaqna.com · boldmedya.com · www.odatv.com
[● 12 SOURCES] Retired police officer Ali Şekeroğlu died after a suicide attempt during a protest in front of the Constitutional Court. www.trabzonhabermerkezi.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · tr.shafaqna.com · boldmedya.com · www.sozcu.com.tr · +6 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Ali Şekeroğlu stated he could no longer make ends meet before his suicide attempt. www.trabzonhabermerkezi.com · www.sozcu.com.tr · www.guncelegitim.com · www.hamlegazetesi.com.tr · www.yesilafsin.com · +2 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The Police Force Union reported four suicides within two days, including one in Yalova and one in Manisa. dokuz8haber.net · www.gazetepencere.com
[● 9 SOURCES] Retired police officer Ali Şekeroğlu stated he could no longer make ends meet before his suicide attempt. www.guncelegitim.com · www.hamlegazetesi.com.tr · www.trabzonhabermerkezi.com · www.yesilafsin.com · www.sozcu.com.tr · +3 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The union highlighted that the 3600 additional indicator regulation has not been implemented for all first-degree public officials. www.tigrishaber.com · www.gazetezebra.com.tr · www.izgazete.net
[● 4 SOURCES] Seven members of the police force committed suicide within a five-day period. www.tigrishaber.com · www.gazetezebra.com.tr · www.izgazete.net · www.cumhuriyet.com.tr
[● 3 SOURCES] The union cited economic and social issues, working conditions, and inequalities in personal rights as reasons for the strike. www.tigrishaber.com · www.gazetezebra.com.tr · www.izgazete.net