Republican People's Party (CHP) vice chair and İzmir deputy Zeynep Altıok visited academician Nuriye Gülmen and primary school teacher Semih Özakça in prison, who have been on hunger strike for 121 days.
After the prison visit, Altıok stated "This is a first in the violation of human rights, happening in front of the eyes of the world. Even the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yuksel Street is under blockade and arrested. Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who defended their rights by just sitting and not harming anyone other than their bodies were detained first with an unbelievable unjustness and then arrested. Coming from the Justice March, I visited them in 120th day of their hunger strike. And now I am going back to the march saying, “Justice for Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça".
Addressing Minister of Justice, Bekir Bozdag’s statement that “Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça are not in a life-threatening situation”, she asked “Is Bekir Bozdag a doctor? How does he know that they are not in a life-threatening situation? Turkish Medical Association’s applied twice for an intervention but Ministry of Justice didn’t allow. They don’t allow Nuriye and Semih’s doctors to see them either. Then how come Minister of Justice can say this about the situation of two people who have been on hunger strike for 120 days?
Zeynep Altıok also said that they wrote a letter to Bekir Bozdag and Mustafa Yeneroglu, head of human rights committee of Turkish parliament with CHP Ankara deputy Şenal Sarıhan. In the letter, they wrote that “no situation or condition can come before human life. They should allow Nuriye and Semih to be examined by their own doctors. Two people are approaching death with shrinking bodies” she said.
Altıok shared the following messages from Nuriye and Semih:
'IT DOESNT SEEM TO BE POSSIBLE TO REMAIN ALIVE IN PRISON CONDITIONS'
“Our resistance with hunger strike is perceived as only related to us since it is about our lives but that is not true. We are continuing this protest against the state of emergency decrees and all other injustices. Our resistance is an obligation. We are facing with an oppression conducted by various methods and tools for a long time. This resistance became an obligation since there is no other way out.
We know what we are facing with. We know that it is a wall. We will pull down that wall. More resistance, an effective resistance was required. We see that our voices are heard. We have public support. This support and increasing demands are causing the government to worry.
It doesn’t seem to be possible to remain alive in prison conditions. I need to be in hygienic conditions or released. My demand for an air bearing pad was rejected by the administration. I made a neck protector with my own resources since my neck muscles are weakening. I can feel my bones since I lost a lot of muscles. I have a lot of pain and it is increasing.”
'OUR DOCTORS OR INDEPENDENT DOCTORS SHOULD EXAMINE US'
They are putting psychological pressure on us. They are trying to push people to hopelessness and despair. The government is very anxious. They send doctors in every two or three days. Guardians and directors are always watching us. It is apparent that they were instructed. They realise that our situation is worsening. My demand is clear: Our Doctors or Independent Doctors Should Examine Us. This should happen. We applied twice but they rejected our demand.
Nuriye Gülmen, an academic, and Semih Özakça, a primary school teacher, were arrested on "terror" charges late on May 23, on the 75th day of their hunger strike for being dismissed through the unlawful decrees of the AKP government following the failed coup of July 2016. The two educators have been continuing their hunger strike in jail since then.
