Abdulkadir Sengun was the Rector and Professor of Turgut Ozal University. He was arrested following the July 16 attempted coup and charged with being a member of an armed terrorist organization. He was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. Turgut Ozal University was one of the schools that the current Turkish administration closed. His relationship to the school seems to be the basis for his imprisonment. CCS has written to the Minister of Justice and other Turkish officials asking that this case be re-evaluated with its dismissal and release of Dr. Sengun.
December 29, 2019
Mr. Abdulhamit Gul
Minister of Justice
Adalet Bakanlığı
06659 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: +90 312 419 33 70
Email: ozelkalem@adalet.gov.tr
Dear Minister Gul:
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 write to express grave concern for Abdulkadir Sengun, the former rector and professor of Turgut Ozal University, who was arrested in August 2016 on charges of being a member of an armed terrorist organization. He was convicted and sentenced to eight years, one month, and fifteen days imprisonment after serving more than 15 months in custody.
The basis for the charges in this case appear to be unsubstantiated claims of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The concern seems more to be because the university was one of the 15 universities closed after the failed coup of July 2016. The right of Prof. Sengun to work at Turgut Ozal University is protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory, as well as articles 26, 33 and 34 of the Turkish Constitution.
We urge that the charges against our colleague, Prof. Abdulkadir Sengun, be dismissed. He is a prominent and highly accomplished scholar, and his skills would be better used at a university than in a prison.
We thank you for your attention to this most serious matter, and we look forward to receiving your response.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Cc:
Ambassador Serdar Kiliç
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
2525 Massachusetts Avenue. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 612 6700 OR 202 612 6701
Fax: 1 202 612 6744
Email: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr
Twitter: @TurkishEmbassy
Mr. Ziya Selcuk
Minister of Education
Milli Egitim Bakanligi
Atatürk Bulvarı No: 98
Bakanlıklar/ANKARA
Phone: + 90 312 413 26 80
Email: okm@meb.gov.tr
Mr. Mustafa Sentop
Speaker of the Assembly
Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi
TBMM 06543
Bakanlıklar Ankara
Phone: + 90 312 420 50 00
Email: baskanlik.tbmm.gov.tr
kumbuzoglu@tbmm.gov.tr
Members of Supreme Court
Ahlatlıbel Mahallesi İncek Şehit Savcı
Mehmet Selim Kiraz Bulvarı No :4
Posta Kodu:06805
Çankaya / ANKARA
Phone: + 90 312 463 73 00
Fax: + 90 312 463 74 00
E-mail: bilgi@anayasa.gov.tr
Omer Gergerliogu
Congressman
Halkla Iliskiler Binasi 5. Kat
4 nolu Banko Oda: E506
Phone: +90 312 420 6386
Fax: +90 312 4202482
Email: omer.gergerlioglu@tbmm.gov.tr
Sezgin Tanrikulu
Congressman
Halkla İlişkiler Binası
3.Kat 2 Nolu Banko Oda: C303
Phone: +90 (312) 420 60 36 +90 (312) 420 60 37
Fax: +90 (312) 420 23 03
Email: sezgin.tanrikulu@tbmm.gov.tr
