Özakça: Only Changing Isolation Conditions Was Getting Rid of Isolation Torture

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Released on the third hearing of the trial held on 226th day of the hunger strike (October 20), Semih Özakça issued his first statement on Saturday (October 21). It was released on Twitter.

“To me, the only changing isolation conditions was getting rid of the isolation torture. But we still want our job back, we want our labor, our students and will continue to ask for them until we have them. Our heart, mind, opinion and though are with Nuriye [Gülmen] at Numune Hospital”.

Right after his release, Semih Özakça had said, “I couldn’t be happy with my release. I am angry that Nuriye is still inside”.

About Gülmen and Özakça

Nuriye Gülmen was employed at Eskişehir Osmangazi University.

After her contract was not renewed, she brought a lawsuit and won. Seven months later, she started to work at Selçuk University. A day after she started her job, she was suspended from her duty based on the "FETÖ-PDY (Fethullahist Terror Organization-Parallel State Structure) investigation launched into her. She was discharged on January 6, 2017 via the Statutory Decree No. 679.

Semih Özakça was a classroom teacher at Mazıdağı Cumhuriyet Primary School in Mardin. He was discharged via the Statutory Decree No. 675 over "being linked with terror organizations".

Gülmen has been in front of Human Rights Monument on Yüksel Street in the heart of Turkey's capital city of Ankara to stage a sit-in since November 9, 2016 and Özakça since November 23, 2016.

Acun Karadağ was discharged from his job on September 29, 2016 through the Statutory Decree No. 675. He has been taken into custody several times during his protest with the slogan "I want my students" held in front of his old school. He later joined the protesters in Yüksel Street who had also been discharged through statutory decrees under the State of Emergency.

On hunger strike since March 9, 2017

On March 9, Gülmen and Özakça were taken into custody and went on a permanent non—rotational hunger strike in detention.

During their resistance protest that they started in front of Human Rights Monument on Yüksel Street in Ankara, they have been detained and released several times.

On May 22, they were detained for the last time and arrested on the next day. They have been continuing their hunger strike in prison since their arrest on May 23.

On July 8, 2017, they were transferred to Sincan Prison Campus State Hospital that is located outside of Ankara after spending 46 days behind bars where they continued their hunger strike.

On September 15, the first hearing was held without the presence of the defendants as the gendarmerie refused to bring them to the court due to "health and security reasons". The court ruled that Gülmen and Özakça remain further in detention on remand.

On September 26, Gülmen was taken from Sincan Prison Campus Hospital on the 202th day of her hunger strike and was brought to intensive care unit at the Numune Hospital located at a central part of Ankara.

On September 28, second hearing of the trial was held. Gülmen was kept in intenstive care and was not brought to trial. Court ruled that Gülmen and Özakça remain in detention on remand.

On October 20, Semih Özakça was released in the third hearing of the trial whereas Nuriye Gülmen's detention continued. (HK/TK)