Some of the cases of academics who have been arrested either for signing the Peace Petition or for their alleged involvement in the Coup attempt (all have denied such charges) are below. Many have lost their jobs, been arrested and are unable to provide for their families. Some stories are below: Istanbul 10: Peaceful human rights advocates (one being the Director of Amnesty ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Academics Who Signed the Peace Petition Going to Court as Terrorists
Articles Related to Status of Turkish Academics: Academics on Trial for Peace Declaration (The Media Line, December 15, 2017, Nick Ashdown) - http://www.themedialine.org/news/turkey-terrorist-academics-trial-peace-declaration/ Last week trials began of those who signed the Academics for Peace Petition. 148 trials are scheduled through May 2018. Each signer is being tried individually, 10 ... Continue Reading>>
Peace Petition Signatories Call for Solidarity as First Trials Begin
Before the failed coup attempt academics throughout Turkey signed a "Peace Petition" calling for better treatment of the Kurds. There was an immediate response from the government that began as investigations into the signers, followed by many being suspended or terminated from their positions at their institutions. Following the coup attempt the signers of the Peace Petition were included in the ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Academics for Peace Face Court Hearing on December 5 – Being Individually Sued
Many academics in Turkey signed a Peace Petition on January 11 2016, noting that they wanted better treatment for Kurds. More than 500 academics signed the petition. Many of them have, as a result, been terminated from their institutions. Some were dismissed from public service, some were fired outright and others were forced to retire. Four were detained for several weeks. Now most are being ... Continue Reading>>
Professor Istar Gozaydin, Turkish Academic/Activist, Awarded Human Rights Award From University of Oslo
The University of Oslo grants the Human Rights Award to "purge-victim academic, Professor Istar Gozaydin." Professor Gozaydin spent 4 months in prison after last year's coup attempt in Turkey. Gozaydin was detained on December 20, 2016 and accused with being part of the Gulen group which was accused as being behind the coup attempt. She was arrested on December 27, 2016. Gozaydin was ... Continue Reading>>
Turkey Requests Extradition of Manager and Teacher at Demirel College Who Has Lived in Georgia Since 2002
Turkey has requested Georgia to extradite Mustafa Cabuk alleging that he faces “terrorism” charges due to his alleged involvement with the Gulen movement. Georgia has denied refugee status to Cabuk and his family. CCS has written the Prime Minister of Georgia requesting a review and reconsideration for the Cabuk family as their well-being will most likely be in jeopardy if sent to ... Continue Reading>>
Gulmen and Ozakca Began Hunger Strike to Protest Dismissal as Academics. Shortly After, They Were Arrested.
Nuriye Gulmen (Scholar) and Semih Ozakca (Primary School Teacher) were dismissed from academic positions in November 2016 and began protesting their dismissal. In March 2017 they began a hunger strike and two months later were charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” and “propaganda for a terrorist organization.” CCS understands that, due to their hunger strike, their health has ... Continue Reading>>
Turkish Academic Deported from Malaysia to Turkey
Ismet Ozelik, formerly a member of the Board of Directors of Mevlana University in Selcuklu, was in Malaysia and, at Turkey’s request, was deported back to Turkey on suspicions of his involvement with the Gulen movement. CCS wrote to the Turkish authorities requesting clarification of Dr. Ozelik’s status and, requesting that if charged he receive a fair trial that meets international standards. ... Continue Reading>>
In Light of Trump’s Success on Freeing American Jailed in Egypt – CCS Requests His Help to Free Golge in Turkey
CCS wrote President Trump requesting his help in obtaining Dr. Serkan Golge’s release from prison in Turkey. Golge is a scientist at NASA and an American citizen who went home to visit his family and was arrested and charged with complicity in the coup attempt almost a year ago in Turkey. Golge has been in prison since July with the only evidence being his having an American dollar in his ... Continue Reading>>
Funding Campaign Established to Help Turkish Academics for Peace
Thousands of academics have been terminated from their positions, detained by the authorities and/or arrested since the Turkish Coup in April 2016. Among them are the Academics for Peace who signed a declaration for ceasing human rights violations in the Kurdish provinces. 2,212 academics signed the petition. As of March 2017 at least 383 signatories have been purged from their jobs, banned from ... Continue Reading>>