Short Film for Gülmen, Özakça On Hunger Strike

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder has shot a short film for Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça who have been on a hunger strike for 148 days to be reinstated to their jobs after being dismissed from their positions through a statutory decree issued under the State of Emergency.

The short film, "She is alive" written by Tufan Taştan tells the story of Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça being woken up in prison every night by guardians to check whether they are still alive.

Click - Guardians Check on Gülmen, Özakça: "Are You Dead or Alive"

Sırrı Süreyya Önder talking to Gazete Duvar about the film stated that he was shaken and found it traumatic that Gülmen and Özakça were being woken up by guardians in prison checking on them and being asked "are you still alive?" every night, and said:

"We shot this film in a very short time , with almost a half-day preparation and with the help of people who were only volunteers and amateurs and the support of Mesopotamia Cinema Collective. We did this production in order to raise awareness to the situation and especially mobilize intellectuals and artists".

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.

They have been continuing their hunger strike since then in prison. (EKN/DG)