Yunus Bekdemir was the former founder of Canik Başarı (Success or Achievement) University and arrested for “membership of an armed terrorist organization” and “opposition to the law on the prevention of financing of terrorism” on September 23, 2016. His university was closed as one of the 15 universities that were closed after the failed coup. At the Samsun 3rd Peace Court of Criminal Jurisdiction ... Continue Reading>>
Writer’s Hearing To Take Place Two Years After Arrest for Giving Speech Critical of Turkish Government
Writer, Temel Demirer, was arrested in July 2017 for giving a speech that was critical of the government. For the past 27 months he has been subjected to a travel ban and faces criminal charges. His next hearing is Tuesday, October 15, 2019. CCS has written the Minister of Justice requesting his release as he has a right to freedom of speech and expression. ... Continue Reading>>
Approaching Hearing for Academic Charged With Releasing Research Information
Bulent Sik, a former Turkish academic, is charged with releasing research information he thought needed to be released to ensure the public safety. His hearing will be held on September 26th. ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish/US Dual Citizen Still Barred From Returning To His Job In the US
Professor Ismail Kul was arrested in August 2016 for allegedly participating in the attempted coup of July 2016, and imprisoned for 18 months. The Turkish authorities released him in January 2018, six months after evidence of his innocence came out. He is still barred from traveling, and, in particular, from returning to his home in the US, and resuming his work as a Chemistry professor at Widener ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Encourages US Congressmen to Advocate for Release of Serkan Golge from Turkey with Charges Dropped
NASA Scientist, U.S. citizen, Serkan Golge who was wrongly accused of participating in the attempted coup in Turkey, was released from prison recently, but is still required to wear an ankle monitor and report to the police four days a week. His charges were never dropped, his passport was not returned, and he is not free to leave Turkey. CCS is writing to Congresmen Lankford, Wicker, Cardin, ... Continue Reading>>
On July 30, Gregory Cherlin, Member of the CCS Advisory Board, Attended the Court Hearing in Turkey for the Case of a Turkish-French Mathematician, Tuna Altinel. Here is Prof. Cherlin’s Report on the Hearing.
Mathematician Tuna Altinel, Imprisoned in Turkey on Bogus Charges, Has Been Released From Prison
Tuna Altinel, Professor of Mathematics at Lyon 1 University in France, arrested in Turkey on May 11, 2019, on bogus charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, has been released from prison after his hearing today, which was attended by politicians, journalists, and academics: Release Verdict for Academic for Peace Tuna Altınel ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Constitutional Court Ruled that Charges Against Academics for Peace Violated Their Freedom of Expression
Ten Academics for Peace who, in 2016, signed the petition entitled “We Will Not Be a Party To This Crime,” criticizing government actions in the southeast of the country, have been acquitted of charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. The Court also ruled to pay reparations to wrongly convicted academics. Retrials based upon the ruling of the Constitutional Court have been advised ... Continue Reading>>
Prominent Academic for Peace Released from Turkish Prison
Prof. Füsun Üstel of Galatasaray University has been released from Eskişehir Women's Prison after serving two and a half months of her 15-month sentence. According to her attorney, the rest of her sentence has been suspended. On July 26th, the Turkish Constitutional Court, in a plenary session, will hear the objection to the verdicts of Füsun Üstel and 9 other academics for peace. Prof. Füsun ... Continue Reading>>
BAD NEWS: Academics Silenced Due to Repression in Turkey
After taking positions on political issues in Turkey, many academics were terminated from their positions on University campuses with large numbers of them being criminally charged and sentenced. Many, who were able, left Turkey and others remained silent. The effect on advanced education in Turkey has been disastrous. Turkey’s Crackdown on Academics Represses History Once Again ... Continue Reading>>