Gülmen, Özakça at Ankara Courthouse, Prosecutor Demands Arrest

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Educators Gülmen and Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for 76 days were taken to the Ankara Courthouse today (May 23).

The Progressive Legists Association (ÇHD) declared that Gülmen and Özakça were taken to the prosecutor’s office to give statement and Özakça’s prosecution statement started at around 11:30 a.m.

“Affiliation with the organization through playing guitar”

In the prosecution questioning, Özakça was asked why he retweeted a Public Laborers Front’s video in which he played guitar and sang a song.

Speaking to bianet, attorney Zehra Özdemir said “Özakça was asked whether he thought of any affiliation with the organization while he retweeted the video. In reponse, Semih Özakça said that he is already taking part in the video and he can answer any question related to the content of the video”.

Attorney Özdemir explained the other question as follows:

“The prosecutor’s office also asked ‘What were you promised to go on the death fast?’. Semih said ‘I am not on the death fast, I’m on hunger strike. What sort of benefit can I have out of it?’”.

The questioning lasted around half an hour.

They were detained yesterday

Academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça were detained in a house raid launched at around 1 a.m. on the 75th day of their hunger strike yesterday.

Police intervened in the people who rallied in front of the Human Rights Monument on Yüksel Street in Ankara to support Gülmen and Özakça all day long. Some of the protesters were battered and taken into custody.

Police blocked in front of and around the monument. (AS/TK)