13.11.2026 14:50
In the Aliağa district of İzmir, at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory, where 18 workers lost their lives, workers protesting the mobile phone ban imposed by management walked off the job and closed the road in front of the factory to traffic. As tensions grew, it was reported that the İzmir Governor's Office closed the roads leading to the factory and that the gendarmerie detained the protesting workers. The workers are demanding mourning leave, paid leave, and an independent audit.
A new tension was experienced at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa after the explosion on November 9. The factory management's ban on workers entering with cell phones turned into a work stoppage during the morning shift.
“NO ONE WILL ENTER THE FACTORY WITH A CELL PHONE”
Workers arriving for their shift in the morning were informed that they had to leave their phones in boxes set up at the security point and collect them at the end of the shift. In the announcement made at the factory entrance, it was announced that the practice was introduced on the instruction of HABAŞ Board Chairman Mehmet Rüştü Başaran, who was placed under house arrest in the investigation into the explosion. It was stated that workers who did not hand over their phones would not be allowed through the turnstiles.
WORKERS STOPPED WORK AND CLOSED THE ROAD
Morning shift workers who refused to hand over their phones did not enter the factory. Workers gathered in front of the factory chanted “Management resign” and “Türk Metal resign.” When their demands were not met, a group of workers closed the Çanakkale Asphalt and industrial road to traffic and began a sit-in protest.
The gendarmerie commander who came to the area stated that closing the road negatively affected traffic and asked for the road to be opened. It was announced that the factory management had meanwhile canceled the 16:00-24:00 shift. The workers claimed that the decision was taken to prevent the action from growing.
GOVERNORSHIP CLOSED ROADS, DETENTIONS REPORTED
As tension grew, it was reported that the İzmir Governor's Office closed the roads leading to the factory and placed the area under security. It was reported that gendarmerie intervened in the workers taking action and began detention procedures. It was stated that Smart Solar workers, who had been protesting in front of the factory for about a month, also came to the area to support the HABAŞ workers. The number of those detained was not disclosed.
“FIVE DAYS OF BEREAVEMENT LEAVE SHOULD BE GRANTED”
A person speaking on behalf of the workers listed their demands as follows:
“If they are telling us, ‘Don't speak up or say anything at a place where 19 people died,’ then let them come and detain us. At this factory where 19 people died, we say that people should be granted bereavement leave. These workers could not even go to the funerals of the people who died. Five days of bereavement leave should be granted.”
The workers also announced that they should be granted paid leave until the debris is removed and occupational health and safety inspections are completed, and that they will not return to work without an independent inspection.
WHAT HAPPENED?
An explosion occurred at around 11:46 on November 9 in the steel mill section of the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa's Bozköy Neighborhood. İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban announced that the explosion occurred during boiler replacement work when an overhead crane fell and the falling materials dropped into the arc furnace.
The death toll, initially announced as 16, rose to 18 on November 10. Many workers were also injured in the explosion. A publication ban was imposed on the incident.
9 SUSPECTS ARRESTED, BAŞARAN PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Menemen Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 4 public prosecutors were assigned. Eleven suspects, including HABAŞ Board Chairman Mehmet Rüştü Başaran, were detained. Başaran was detained on November 10 in Istanbul's Kartal district.
Nine of the suspects brought to the courthouse were arrested on the charge of “causing the death of more than one person.” A judicial control decision in the form of house arrest was issued for Başaran and 1 suspect. Expert examination continues to determine the cause of the explosion and possible negligence.