Fourteen students at Boğaziçi University are in legal jeopardy for protesting government appointments of new rectors. Two of them, Berke Gok and Perit Ozen, have recently been released pending trial. The other 12 are still detained under harsh conditions.
January 8, 2022
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Turkish Republic
Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi
Beştepe 06560
Akyurt, Ankara
Republic of Turkey
Tel: +90 3125255555
Twitter: @tcbestepe
Dear 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.
This communication concerns the ongoing crackdown on academic freedom at Boğaziçi University. Historically, Boğaziçi University has provided a high-quality education rooted in academic freedom and the encouragement of critical thinking. There have been ongoing peaceful protests by students and some faculty as a part of the “Boğaziçi Solidarity” movement. The protests were particularly focused on the process of appointment of new rectors.
The government has acted harshly in response to these protests. The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has indicted 14 students, Berke Gök and Perit Özen among them. The Committee is concerned that the charges brought against these students are intended to punish them for their participation in the peaceful protests. Such action would violate their freedoms, which Turkey has agreed to protect under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We have learned that on January 7, 2022, Berke Gök and Perit Özen were released from prison pending their trial, scheduled for March 21, 2022.
We write to urge you to ensure that these students are treated fairly and that they have independent legal representation. We further urge that whatever legal proceedings are held in their case meet international standards for fair trials.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We closely follow developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Ccs:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520
Tel.: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken
Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan
Embassy of the Turkish Republic
2525 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel.: +1 202 612 67 00
Fax: +1 202 612 67 44
Email: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr
Twitter: @TurkishEmbassy
Mehmet Naci Inci, Rector
Bogazici University
Istanbul, Turkey
Email: naci.inci@boun.edu.tr
Tel: (212) 359-6604
Ambassador Jeff Flake
U.S. Embassy Ankara
110 Atatürk Blvd.
Kavaklıdere, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Tel.: (90-312) 455-5555
Fax: (90-312) 467-0019
Email: webmasterankara@state.gov