Özakça’s Mother Detained As Well on 72th Day of Hunger Strike

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Police attacked those who were keeping watch in front of the Human Rights Monument on Yüksel Street in Ankara for academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for 72 days demanding that they be reinstated to their jobs.

As the hunger strike was entering its 72th day, 10 supporters on the hunger strike area were taken into custody including Özakça's mother Sultan Özakça were later released towards morning hours.

There have been three more interventions including detentions during the night. The supporters of the hunger strike continue protesting on the area in shifts.

Today is the 192nd day of Gülmen and Özakça's protest and 72nd day of their hunger strike. The police has attacked the hunger strike area for the sixth time. The watch continued after the detentions.

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 Ankara to stage a sit-in since November 9, and Özakça since November 23.

On March 11, they declared that they would go on a permanent non—rotational hunger strike. They were detained on March 9 and they went on hunger strike in custody. (BK/DG)