Fwd: [isa47-socialmovements] Academics being trampled in Turkey
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Israel Rodriguez
Feb 13, 2017, 3:50:52 AM2/13/17
to rede...@googlegroups.com
En solidaridad!
| Israel Rodríguez Giralt IN3 - Internet Interdisciplinary Institute CareNet Research Group Senior Researcher (+34) 934 505 495 irodri...@uoc.edu academia.edu / CUIDAR / CANDID @birrabel / @ProyectoCuidar / linkedin |
| Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 5 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona) in3.uoc.edu facebook / @IN3_UOC / linkedin |
 |
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zeynep Gambetti <gamb...@boun.edu.tr>
Date: 2017-02-12 19:38 GMT+01:00
Subject: [isa47-socialmovements] Academics being trampled in Turkey
To: "isa47-soci...@listes.uclouvain.be" <isa47-soci...@listes.uclouvain.be>
ISA47 Mailing-list aims at diffusing information and news about social movements studies around the world: publications, call for papers, lectures, conferences, workshops, book reviews, theoretical contributions or questions, book reviews, etc. Join us and feel free to send message and news related to your research and writings.
This mailing list is hosted by the ISA-Research Committee 47 “Social classes and social movements”. www.isarc47.org
Questions or suggestions? Don't hesitate to write to the mailing-list managers: Geoffrey...@uclouvain.be, Ha...@gu.se
Mailing-list website (archives, subscribe/unsubscribe etc.):
https://listes-2.sipr.ucl.ac.be/sympa/info/social-movements-research
Your subscription email is irodri...@uoc.edu
From: Zeynep Gambetti <gamb...@boun.edu.tr>
Date: 2017-02-12 19:38 GMT+01:00
Subject: [isa47-socialmovements] Academics being trampled in Turkey
To: "isa47-soci...@listes.uclouvain.be" <isa47-soci...@listes.uclouvain.be>
*** COULD YOU PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS AND THE ATTACHED CALL AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE? ***
Alas, Turkish universities suffered yet another wave of purges on Tuesday, Feb.8, this time targeting more Peace Petitioners than all of the previous purges. 184 of the 330 academics expelled overnight from their positions in prestigious public universities in Ankara and Istanbul had signed the "We will not be party to this crime!" petition calling for an end to military operations in Turkey’s Kurdish region were expelled.
Among these was Ibrahim Kaboglu from Marmara University, a prominent professor of constitutional law and former head of the Turkish Human Rights Advisory Council. Kaboğlu repeatedly criticized the charter amendment package, saying that the constitution cannot be changed under state of emergency conditions. He was, in the words of veteran journalist Yavuz Baydar, “one of the flag bearers of those who against all odds defend the value of the rule of law [...] Kaboğlu engaged selflessly for years for a democratic order. A decade ago he was asked by the then-Prime Minister Erdogan to prepare a detailed report on minority rights and how to proceed with reconciliation over the past atrocities of the state, and ways of devolution of power. He worked intensely with another senior scholar, Prof Baskın Oran and issued the report. Only to find out months after that both of them would be charged by the prosecutors on ‘insulting Turkishness’.”
Among the 330 professors expelled were Oget Oktem Tanor, an 82 year-old professor who founded the first neuro-psychology laboratory in Turkey, and Ahmet Hasim Kose, a renowned professor of economics, both of whom are emeritus. Also banned from public service are Yüksel Taşkın, author of several books on the AKP and conservative nationalism in Turkey; Murat Sevinç, a constitutional law professor and columnist at the critical online journal Diken; and İsmet Akça, political scientist and regular contributor to leftist publications.
The decree targeted some of the best universities in the country. One of them is the Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences (SBF), a school compared to France’s Sciences-Po or Ecole Normale Supérieure from which top diplomats and intellectuals graduate. The decree also emptied out entire journalism and theater departments at Ankara University and Marmara University in Istanbul.
On Friday, Feb. 10, students and professors gathered to protest the expulsions at SBF were brutally attacked by the police who used plastic bullets and police dogs to push the demonstrators out of the campus. Academic gowns left on the ground at the gates in an act of protest were trampled under riot police boots. A professor’s leg was broken and several others were injured. Five professors were taken under custody, but were later released.
Since the failed coup last summer, the AKP establishment has expelled 20 times more university professors than the three military juntas in the history of the Turkish Republic put together. It is now certain that the next in line are the most prestigious universities such Bogazici and Middle East Technical University that are yet untouched owing to their highly respected status and multiple international links.
It is impossible not to agree with Baydar that “[d]ecree after decree, what we observe is the victory of intolerant mediocrity over hard-earned merit, and civil courage.”
Despite the terrible troubles you are all facing in your respective countries, we are nevertheless counting on your support and solidarity in these hard times.
Alas, Turkish universities suffered yet another wave of purges on Tuesday, Feb.8, this time targeting more Peace Petitioners than all of the previous purges. 184 of the 330 academics expelled overnight from their positions in prestigious public universities in Ankara and Istanbul had signed the "We will not be party to this crime!" petition calling for an end to military operations in Turkey’s Kurdish region were expelled.
Among these was Ibrahim Kaboglu from Marmara University, a prominent professor of constitutional law and former head of the Turkish Human Rights Advisory Council. Kaboğlu repeatedly criticized the charter amendment package, saying that the constitution cannot be changed under state of emergency conditions. He was, in the words of veteran journalist Yavuz Baydar, “one of the flag bearers of those who against all odds defend the value of the rule of law [...] Kaboğlu engaged selflessly for years for a democratic order. A decade ago he was asked by the then-Prime Minister Erdogan to prepare a detailed report on minority rights and how to proceed with reconciliation over the past atrocities of the state, and ways of devolution of power. He worked intensely with another senior scholar, Prof Baskın Oran and issued the report. Only to find out months after that both of them would be charged by the prosecutors on ‘insulting Turkishness’.”
Among the 330 professors expelled were Oget Oktem Tanor, an 82 year-old professor who founded the first neuro-psychology laboratory in Turkey, and Ahmet Hasim Kose, a renowned professor of economics, both of whom are emeritus. Also banned from public service are Yüksel Taşkın, author of several books on the AKP and conservative nationalism in Turkey; Murat Sevinç, a constitutional law professor and columnist at the critical online journal Diken; and İsmet Akça, political scientist and regular contributor to leftist publications.
The decree targeted some of the best universities in the country. One of them is the Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences (SBF), a school compared to France’s Sciences-Po or Ecole Normale Supérieure from which top diplomats and intellectuals graduate. The decree also emptied out entire journalism and theater departments at Ankara University and Marmara University in Istanbul.
On Friday, Feb. 10, students and professors gathered to protest the expulsions at SBF were brutally attacked by the police who used plastic bullets and police dogs to push the demonstrators out of the campus. Academic gowns left on the ground at the gates in an act of protest were trampled under riot police boots. A professor’s leg was broken and several others were injured. Five professors were taken under custody, but were later released.
Since the failed coup last summer, the AKP establishment has expelled 20 times more university professors than the three military juntas in the history of the Turkish Republic put together. It is now certain that the next in line are the most prestigious universities such Bogazici and Middle East Technical University that are yet untouched owing to their highly respected status and multiple international links.
It is impossible not to agree with Baydar that “[d]ecree after decree, what we observe is the victory of intolerant mediocrity over hard-earned merit, and civil courage.”
Despite the terrible troubles you are all facing in your respective countries, we are nevertheless counting on your support and solidarity in these hard times.
Academic gowns being trampled by riot police at Ankara University on Feb. 10.
ISA47 Mailing-list aims at diffusing information and news about social movements studies around the world: publications, call for papers, lectures, conferences, workshops, book reviews, theoretical contributions or questions, book reviews, etc. Join us and feel free to send message and news related to your research and writings.
This mailing list is hosted by the ISA-Research Committee 47 “Social classes and social movements”. www.isarc47.org
Questions or suggestions? Don't hesitate to write to the mailing-list managers: Geoffrey...@uclouvain.be, Ha...@gu.se
Mailing-list website (archives, subscribe/unsubscribe etc.):
https://listes-2.sipr.ucl.ac.be/sympa/info/social-movements-research
Your subscription email is irodri...@uoc.edu
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages