MARCH 16, 2016
Objet: URGENT CALL FOR SOLIDARITY WITH TURKISH ACADEMICS
Three colleagues were arrested yesterday for having signed the peace petition against the Turkish government's armed assault on several towns within Turkish territory. This is a critical turning point in our struggle to stop human rights violations in this country. Until now, academics were fired, suspended from office, forced to resign or retire, but not arrested:
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/173036-3-academics-referred-to-court-for-arrest
As of now, police have arrived at the Bogazici University campus to stop students and faculty from organizing a protest. The situation is really getting out of hand and nothing can be done here that will not turn against us in the very near future.
We are therefore in dire need of solidarity and public statements from academics worldwide.
REMINDER
Dear friends and colleagues,
This is an urgent call for solidarity. The Istanbul Prosecutor has initiated investigations against 1128 academics throughout Turkey for signing a petition against the state’s “anti-terror” operations in the Kurdish provinces.
As many of you might have heard, the Turkish state with its draconian army and police army has been forcing a siege and countless curfews in cities in Southeastern Turkey. Around 600 civilians have been murdered since summer.
Academics for Peace issued the following declaration on Jan. 10:
In a speech made on Jan. 12, President Erdogan targeted not only academics but anyone who supported them as well. The Higher Education Board, a decadent residue of 1980 coup d'Etat, immediately stated that it was going to do “whatever necessary” to punish the academics. A witch-hunt has ensued and now we hear that scores of academics are being forced to resign and/or are taken under custody throughout the country.
The legal charges against the signatories of the petition range from “demeaning the state” to “propaganda for a terrorist organization.”
WE ARE IN URGENT NEED OF SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CIRCLES.
The Middle Eastern Studies Association, for instance, has sent the following letter to President Erdogan:
https://www.facebook.com/barisicinakademisyenler/posts/969499219797425
The following petition to support the academics has also been initiated:
For other instances of support within Turkey by journalists, artists, associations and unions, cf.:
http://bianet.org/english/human-rights/171097-academics-for-peace-we-stand-by-our-signatures
In solidarity,
