Joint statement of 111 public figures in Turkey on jailed educators
111 prominent actors and actresses, scholars, authors, politicians, and activists in Turkey have released a statement on the 111th day of hunger strike of dismissed and jailed educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who have been demanding their jobs back.
In their statement, the signatories said: “Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça are only two of the 5000 academicians, 50K teachers, and 150K public workers who have been dismissed from their jobs with the order of statutory decrees. Gülmen and Özakça have been jailed for going on a hunger strike to demand their jobs back. They’ve been hungry for 111 days! Nuriye and Özakça should be let to die (on hunger strike)! They should be given their right to to work again. In order for them to be able to return to their schools and continue on with their lives, we want the state to take the necessary steps. This is what justice and democracy entail!”
Among the well-known people who signed the statement are Ahmet Ümit, Aslı Erdoğan, Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Zülfü Livaneli, Türkan Elçi, and many others.
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/111-isimden-nuriye-gulmen-ve-semih-ozakca-icin-cagri-166901.html