Ankara Bans Press Statements, Slogans, Demonstrations for Gülmen, Özakça on Hunger Strike

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Ankara Governorship has put a ban on singing anthems and songs loudly as well as chanting slogans and making demonstration and press statements on Yüksel Street and the surrounding area where the protests and demonstrations continue against dismissals through statutory decrees and in solidarity with educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça who were discharged and have gone on a hunger strike to be reinstated to their positions.

On May 26, the Governorship had prohibited all demonstrations planned to take place after the sunset in Ankara. The new ban placed on loud anthems and songs, slogans as well as demonstration and press statements on Yüksel Street and the surrounding area applies for 24 hours.

Resistance on Yüksel street enters 239th day

Academic Nuriye Gülmen had begun holding a demonstration in front of the Human Rights Statute on Yüksel Street in Turkey's capital city of Ankara 239 days ago on November 9, 2016 demanding to be reinstated to her position from which she was discharged through a statutory decree. Teacher Semih Özakça who was also discharged from his position had joined the demonstration on November 23, 2016.

The Human Rights Statute and its surrounding area was closed with a police barricade after Gülmen and Özakça were taken into custody on May 22, on the 75th day of their hunger strike and arrested the next day.

Supporters who have been carrying out protests in Yüksel Street in support of Gülmen and Özakça since May 22 have been facing police intervention and detentions.

Dismissed sociologist Veli Saçılık as well as teachers Esra Özakça and Acun Karadağ are also being exposed to police violence every day trying to hold a statement for the press in front of the Human Rights Statute. (BK/DG)