STATE OF EMERGENCY

Amnesty International, in a report concerning dismissed public sector workers, stated: "The blanket nature of the dismissals, the fact that the dismissed include trade union, political or human rights activists and known critics of the government from conservative sections of society, and the broader crackdown on dissent that has included the jailing of more than 120 journalists awaiting trial since the 2016 coup attempt, increase concerns that a great many dismissals were arbitrary, unfair and/or politically motivated."

Dismissed academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça are on the 75th day of their hunger strike, which they started with the demand of being returned to their jobs. Last night, police raided their houses and detained Gülmen and Özakça. Lawyer Selçuk Kozaağaçlı stated that the ground of detention is the following: “the protest might turn into an indefinite hunger strike or trigger events like Gezi Park protests or Tekel strike.”

The state of emergency declared after the coup attempt on July 15 resulted in a purge in universities that has never been seen before in Turkey's recent history. The emergency decrees have been used for dismissing both experienced academics who carried out many researches in universities and young academics whose careers had just begun. However, despite everything that happened, some academics hold on to their profession, which they define as “reason for being”. In this regard, Kocaeli Solidarity Academy is a precursor and guiding initiative. Having completed its first term of “alternative education”, it has also the purpose of establishing an open and free school of life for people with a new two-tear program.

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks released a memorandum about Turkey after 6 years. Muiznieks stated that the state of emergency must be stopped.

Academics who gathered in Cebeci Campus of Ankara University for protesting the decrees are not allowed in the university. Police forces attacked and the doors of the campus are closed.

Last night, a new state of emergency decree was issued and 4,464 public servants have been sacked.

Starting from January 19, the state of emergency is extended for 3 more months.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım spoke at AKP group meeting. He stated that the parliament will discuss 3-month extension to the state of emergency this week. The state of emergency, which was declared after the coup attempt on July 15, had been extended for 3 months.

Vice Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş stated that the state of emergency will continue as long as it is necessary, new emergency decrees are about to be completed and investigation is launched against 347 social media accounts.

With the recent emergency decree that is published in the Official Journal today, Istanbul Fertility Center, which was shut down on July 25, is reopened.