Demirtaş Asks Gülmen, Özakça to End Hunger Strike

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has declared that party’s imprisoned Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş sent a letter to Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who continue their hunger strike.

Expressing that he finds Gülmen and Özakça’s resistance meaningful, Demirtaş emphasized that that was a strong opposition against the ongoing unlawfulness and illegalities.

In his letter, Demirtaş said “It is up to your free will to start and end the hunger strike. Nevertheless, I as a politician friend of yours who represents will of millions am asking you to end the hunger strike”.

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. (YY/TK)