Protesters gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday 15 October to protest against what they say was the corporate greed that lead to the deaths of at least 41 people in a mining disaster in the north of the country.

On Saturday, authorities ended their search for survivors following the explosion in the mine in the Amasra district of Bartın on Friday.

The protest, in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul and organised by the 'Istanbul Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces', said the disaster occurred due to negligence.

A report had previously warned of the risks of flammable gas at the mine.

The protesters blamed the mine's bosses for continuing work at the mine, and the government for turning a blind eye to the risks.

The press release on behalf of the Istanbul Labor Peace and Democracy Forces was read by Rüya Kurtuluş and Deniz Bakır

Rüya Kurtuluş said (00:29 - 00:50): "Although it is stated in the reports of the Court of Accounts and the Turkish Hard Coal Institution that there is a risk of Grease fire due to the depth of the excavation exceeding 300 meters, the government and the bosses who continue production for the sake of profit are responsible for this massacre."

Deniz Bakır said (01:22 - 02:05): "We are angry because the AKP-MHP government, which sacrificed the workers' demand for a humane life to the greed for profit, deliberately turned a blind eye to this massacre, while the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise, which has had many mass murders in its history, should have learned from them. Those who turn our every moment into hell with hunger, unemployment, high cost of living and exploitation, and those who try to suppress those who object, criticize and oppose with pressure and violence are responsible for this massacre."

This footage was filmed and produced 15 October 2022.

An explosion in a coal mine in northern Turkey killed at least 41 workers and injured nearly a dozen others, authorities said Saturday as they announced the end of a massive effort to rescue any stranded workers.

The video shows the protest in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul after the death of 41 miners in the mining accident that occurred in the Amasra district of Bartın. Citizens, who came together with the call of the "Istanbul Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces", said that the mining accident occurred due to negligence. Before the disaster occurred, a Grizu warning was given for the mine. The protesters blamed the bosses, who continued to work in the mine despite the Grizu warnings, and the government that turned a blind eye to the disaster.

The press release on behalf of the Istanbul Labor Peace and Democracy Forces was read by Rüya Kurtuluş and Deniz Bakır.
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DECIPHER

00:29:03 – 00:50:19
Rüya Kurtuluş: "Although it is stated in the reports of the Court of Accounts and the Turkish Hard Coal Institution that there is a risk of Grease fire due to the depth of the excavation exceeding 300 meters, the government and the bosses who continue production for the sake of profit are responsible for this massacre."

01:22:18 - 02:05:00
Deniz Bakır: "We are angry because the AKP-MHP government, which sacrificed the workers' demand for a humane life to the greed for profit, deliberately turned a blind eye to this massacre, while the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise, which has had many mass murders in its history, should have learned from them. Those who turn our every moment into hell with hunger, unemployment, high cost of living and exploitation, and those who try to suppress those who object, criticize and oppose with pressure and violence are responsible for this massacre."