Turkish authorities rounded up scholars who signed a petition requesting the military to stop their behavior towards the Kurdish community in the south eastern part of the country. Universities also began dismissing the professors who had signed the petition. Those detained have now been released but they do face investigation and possible arrest. Many have already been dismissed from their university positions.
January 22, 2016
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President
Republic of Turkey
Cumhurbaskanligi Genel Sekreterligi Yurutme ve Koordinasyon Baskanligi
06689 Cankaya
Ankara, Republic of TurkeyDear President Erdogan:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We have learned that Turkish authorities have detained and begun investigations of Turkish academics that peacefully expressed their opinion about Turkish military campaigns in the Southeast. An incomplete list of academics that are facing dismissal from their university positions and criminal prosecution is attached.
This action of Turkish authorities constitutes a violation of freedom of speech as protected under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Turkey is a signatory: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.”
To remain in the eyes of scholars worldwide as a nation that respects human rights and academic freedom, Turkey has to immediately stop criminal proceedings against academics that exercised their right to free speech. Administrations of universities to which these academics belong should stop their investigations immediately and reinstate any faculty who have been dismissed or face condemnation by the international community.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
List of Detained Turkish Scholars
Released, but under investigation for arrest and/or dismissal from their universities
From Kocaeli University – Kocaeli
Associate Professor Aynur Özuğurlu
Associate Professor Burcu Yakut Çakar
Assistant Professor Derya Keskin
Associate Professor Gül Koksal
Associate Professor Güven Bakırezer
Associate Professor Hakan Koçak
Assistant Professor Hülya Kendir
Professor Kuvvet Lordoğlu
Professor Mehmet Cengiz Erçin
Assistant Professor Mehmet Rauf Kesici
Assistant Professor Mehmet Ruhi Demiray
Professor Nilay Etiler
Professor Onur Hamzaoğlu
Associate Professor Özlem Özkan
Professor Ümit Biçer
Professor Veli Deniz
Associate Professor Yücel Demirer
Professor Zelal EkinciFrom Uludag University – Bursa
Associate Professor Gokhan Yavuz
Associate Professor Sule Akkose Aydin
Research Assistant Aylin CakiFrom Abant Izzet Baysal University – Bolu
Assistant Professor Ülkü Güney
Dr. Selime Güzelsarı
Professor Barış Bora KilicbayFrom Hakkari University – Hakkari
Ümran Roda SuvağcıFrom Düzce University – Düzce
Associate Professor Latife AkyüzFrom Erzurum University – Erzurum
Research Assistant Ramazan KurtFrom Bulent Ecevit University – Zonguldak
Assistant Professor Oznur OnculFrom Giresun University – Giresun
Associate Professor Dilek Ozhan Kocak
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- Academics arrested, threatened for signing a petition (universityworldnews.com)