Council of Europe Calls for Release of Gülmen, Özakça

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Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbiorn Jagland has called for release of academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for 111 days.

In his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) members, Jagland said "I will call [Prime Minister] Binali Yıldırım and ask him for release of Gülmen and Özakça".

Jagland also expressed his expectation that the State of Emergency Commission would its work as soon as possible and said "The Commission has to start its work now".

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. (NV/TK)