CAMPAIGNERS gathered at the BBC for a demonstration in solidarity with two Turkish hunger-strikers yesterday evening.

Academic Nuriye Gulmen and teacher Semih Ozakca have been on hunger strike in Turkey for 135 days.

They started the strike in protest at their dismissal under a government decree which has seen thousands of academics purged from their posts as part of a crackdown on freedom of speech after last year’s failed coup attempt.

The pair were arrested in May and are currently in prison. Their lawyers claimed they were being detained because Turkish authorities feared they were involved in a development of a “Gezitype” opposition movement, referring to the 2013 occupation of Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul.

The plight of the hunger-strikers has become symbolic of the struggle for justice and democracy in Turkey.

Solidarity with the People of Turkey campaigners have vowed to hold emergency demonstrations in London every Friday until the pair are released.