Court rejects appeal for release for hunger-striking educator

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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.

The 19th Heavy Penal Court in Ankara ruled that her detention be continued.

Gülmen, a literature professor, and Semih Özakça, a primary school teacher, launched their hunger strike on March 9 in protest at their dismissal from their jobs with state of emergency decrees introduced after last year’s coup attempt.

The two educators were then arrested on terror charges on May 23 and have been continuing their hunger strike in prison.

Özakça was released from jail on probation on Oct. 20, but Gülmen remains in jail.