Semih Özakça

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. 

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.    

The first hearing of Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, two educators who have been on hunger strike for 170 days, was held at an Ankara court amid police intervention outside the courthouse on Sept. 14.

Detention warrants have been issued for a total of 17 people for opening a banner at a football match in support of two educators who have been on hunger strikes for over 150 days. 

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. 

A number of Turkish doctors and rights groups have slammed the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for rejecting a request by two jailed educators, who have been on hunger strikes for nearly 150 days, to order Ankara to release them on health grounds.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Aug. 2 rejected a request by two Turkish teachers who have been on hunger strikes for nearly 150 days to order Ankara to release them on health grounds.

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.

Imprisoned educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça received medical check-ups in an Ankara hospital on the 140th day of their hunger strikes at the request of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), daily Cumhuriyet reported on July 26.