Gülmen, Özakça on 300th Day of Hunger Strike

Click to read the article in Turkish

Academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça are on the 300th day of the hunger strike they have gone on demanding that they be reinstated to their jobs.

The two figures shared messages on their social media accounts calling for justice and determination.

Gülmen said that they dedicate the 300th day of their hunger strike to imprisoned teacher Nazife Onay, who was discharged through a statutory decree. Gülmen also stated that Onay’s request for medical treatment over suspicion of cancer.

A social media organization will be held with the hashtags to be shared on accounts of NuriyeGülmen, SemihÖzakça and NuriyeSemihİçin (For Nuriye Semih) at 8 p.m.

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. 

On September 14, ahead of the first hearing, Sincan prison gendarmerie commandership sent an official report for Gülmen and Özakça not to be brought to court on the pretext of “security, lack of staff and health conditions”.

Nuriye Gülmen was taken to Numune Hospital from the prison hospital on the 202nd day (September 26) of her hunger strike.

Semih Özakça was released in the third hearing on October 20 and Nuriye Gülmen was released on December 4. (BK/TK)