Draft:Nuriye Gülmen

Turkish educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who went on hunger strike after being dismissed from their jobs by a state of emergency decree, have announced the end of their hunger strike after 324 days. 

Both Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça – the hunger-striking educators dismissed from their jobs by a state of emergency decree – are experiencing serious health problems, Ankara Medical Chamber (ATO) said on Jan. 19.

A Turkish court in Ankara rejected an appeal for the release of Nuriye Gülmen, who has been detained for six months on a terror charge on Nov. 17.

Fourteen lawyers of imprisoned hunger-striking educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça were arrested by a court order on Sept. 20, broadcaster CNN Türk reported on Sept. 21.

An Ankara court on Sept. 14 ordered two teachers, who have been on hunger strike for six months in protest at their dismissal from their jobs, to remain in jail, despite growing alarm over their health.

Neither academic Nuriye Gülmen nor primary school teacher Semih Özakça, were present as their trial on "terror" charges got under way in Ankara.    

Seventeen lawyers of two imprisoned hunger-striking educators have been detained two days before the first hearing of their case, in which the educators are accused of being members of a terrorist organization. 

Police have detained a total of 33 people at a protest carried out in support of two jailed educators who have been on hunger strikes for nearly 150 days. 

A group of demonstrators gathered in front of the Süreyya Opera House in Istanbul's Kadıköy and demanded academic Nuriye Gülmen and primary school teacher Semih Özakça to be released from jail. 

The Ankara Governor's Office has banned demonstrations in public spaces for a month over "security concerns." 

According to a statement released on Aug. 2, the ban will be in place throughout August after authorities evaluated that a possible Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attack could take place.

An investigation has been launched into a Turkish sociologist who has been carrying out a protest demanding to be returned to his job in the capital Ankara. 

Veli Saçılık, a sociologist who was dismissed from his post with a state of emergency decree, has been carrying out a protest to demand that he be returned to his job and that two jailed educators on hunger strike be released. 

Teacher Semih Özaçka and academic Nuriye Gülmen were arrested on terror charges on May 23, on the 75th day of their hunger strike. The two educators decided to go on hunger strike after they were dismissed from their positions under the state of emergency rule that has been in place since July 2016, right after the failed coup attempt.