2 Lawyers Representing Gülmen, Özakça Remanded in Custody

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Two lawyers representing educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for over 138 days, have been detained.

Gülmen’s sister Beyza Gülmen, Arda Turan, Gülnaz Bozkurt and İlker Işık as well were detained on Yüksel Street yesterday (July 23) while attempting to stage a protest. They were released after having their statements.

The laywers were taken into Anti-Terror Bureau

Platform for Solidarity with Nuriye and Semih called for demonstration in Ankara yesterday on the 137th day of the hunger strike. Those who took the bus to go to Ankara were stopped at the entrance of the city and their buses were seized by the police.

Over 60 people who rallied at Güvenpark were battered and detained by the police.

Lawyers Ebru Timtik, Barkın Timtik, Ayşegül Çağatay, Derviş Emre Aydın, Progressive Legists’ Association (ÇHD) İstanbul Branch Chair Gökmen Yeşil and ÇHD member Aytül Kaplan were detained during the assault.

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered release of all lawyers except Ebru Timtik and Barkın Timtik.

Barkın Timtik and Ebru Timtik, who were brought to Ankara Security Directorate Anti-Terror Bureau, are still remanded in custody here.

About Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça

On January 6, 2017, Nuriye Gülmen was discharged from her position through the Statutory Decree No. 679 issued under the State of Emergency.

On October 29, 2016, Semih Özakça was discharged from his position through the Statutory Decree No. 675 issued under the State of Emergency.

On March 9, 2017 Gülmen and Özakça went on an indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike in front of the Human Rights Statute on Yüksel Street in Turkey's capital city of Ankara.

They were taken into custody and later released several times during their hunger strike.

Being charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization", "opposing to the Law on Assembly and Demonstration" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", they were arrested on May 23. (AS/TK)