Gülmen, Özakça on 100th Day of Hunger Strike

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Academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça are on the 100th day of their hunger strike, which they have gone on to be reinstated to their jobs from which they were discharged through a statutory decree.

Solidary videos are being released on social media for the demands of the two educators, who have been arrested for 25 days, to be accepted.

Statements for the press will be held in Ankara and İstanbul.

The protest on Yüksel Street in Ankara is on the 219th day. Statements for the press will be held at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Yüksel Street for the 100th day of the hunger strike. The attorneys will be on Sakarya Street at 7 p.m. with their robes.

A rally will be organized in front of Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy district in İstanbul at 7:30 p.m. urging the government to release Gülmen and Özakça.

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 of today (June 15) they are on the 99th day of their hunger strike. (BK/TK)