In July of 2016 during a family vacation, NASA scientist, Dr. Serkan Golge, was arrested in Turkey as he and his family were preparing to return to the United States. He was accused of being affiliated with "FETO," the organization that was suspected, by the President of Turkey, of planning the failed coup attempt that took place on July 15th. Dr. Golge vehemently denied this charge. Since his ... 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>>
CCS Co-Chair Describes Situation for Academics Presently in Turkey
Dr. Eugene Chudnovsky provides a clear explanation, one year post-coup attempt, of the situation for academics in Turkey. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/one-year-after-attempted-coup-purges-have-left-hundreds-of-turkish-academics-imprisoned/article/2629270 ... 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>>
Serkan Golge, a NASA Scientist, Confined in a Turkish Prison, Goes to Trial on April 17
Serkan Golge, a NASA Scientist and dual citizen of Turkey and the United States, has been confined in Turkey and accused of being part of the coup attempt in July 15, 2016. His trial date is set for April 17. Any scientists who will be in Turkey at the time or in the nearby vicinity and are able to attend the court hearing should do so as support. If there are colleagues and/or friends of his ... Continue Reading>>
Over 5,500 Academics Dismissed from Positions in Turkey since Rule of Law Suspended
Scholars At Risk report that the pressure on Turkish academics has persisted into the 2017 as a new decree was issued dismissing over 600 scholars and more than 100 administrative personnel from higher level educational institutions. Pressures on Turkey's Scholars Renewed in the New Year On January 6, state authorities issued a decree ordering the dismissal of 631 academic personnel and ... Continue Reading>>
NASA Scientist Still Held in Turkey for Alleged Coup Involvement
Serkan Golge, a 36-year-old physicist and research scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, has been detained in Turkey since August of last year, and charged with involvement with the Gülen movement and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). No credible evidence has been presented to back up these charges. In the absence of evidence, Mr. ... Continue Reading>>
Professor of Law and Former Head of Sociology Department at Gediz University Arrested
Dr. İştar Gözaydın, a professor of law and politics and former head of the Department of Sociology at Gediz University, was relieved of her position at Gediz University in Turkey. She was then arrested in December when Gediz University was closed in July under the current “State of Emergency”. Dr. Gözaydın was arrested on December 28, and charged with being a member of an armed terror ... Continue Reading>>