62 European MPs convey concerns over arrest of two Turkish hunger-striking educators

Some 62 members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ on May 23 to express their concerns over the recent detention and arrest of two educators who have been on hunger strike for more than two months, calling on the Turkish government for their immediate release. 

Nuriye Gülmen, an academic, and Semih Özakça, a primary school teacher, were arrested on late May 23 on their 76th day of hunger strike over terror charges.

"We, the undersigned members of the European Parliament, wish to express our deepest concern about the ongoing state of emergency and disproportionate effects thereof on democracy and human rights in Turkey," the letter said. 

The parliamentarians recalled that over 100,000 civil servants, military officers, judges, teachers and academics were dismissed from their jobs, while tens of thousands were arrested and prosecuted in the wake of last year's coup attempt.

Citing Gülmen and Özakça as just two examples out of hundreds of thousands of Turkish citizens affected by measures taken by the government under the state of emergency, the letter recalled that the two had been on the 196th day of their "I want my job back" protest and on the 76th day of their hunger strike. 

"We regret to hear that their health is seriously deteriorating and that they reached a life-threatening stage. Despite this fact, Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça were arbitrarily detained after a midnight police raid at their houses last Monday. We thereby demand their immediate release," it read. 

'Immediate access to appeal needed'  

The parliamentarians also said they stood in solidarity with the people of Turkey and those who have been arbitrarily detained and...