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Open Letter from Scholars in Canada in Solidarity with Academics in Turkey

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BmaE-iBEBJ3IwsS570xbZw_dXkMPv_391GO-zKMWuD4/edit?pref=2&pli=1

We, scholars associated with Canadian universities, are deeply disturbed with the recent attacks on the members of the Academics for Peace initiative in Turkey. 1,128 Turkish and Kurdish scholars who signed the statement “We will not be a party to this crime,” calling on the Turkish government to end its atrocities in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, have been exposed to a campaign of abuse and violence from the Turkish state since January 10, 2016. All 1,128 of the original signatories are under an immediate threat of prosecution with the charges of “propagandising for a terrorist organization” and “overtly insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey.” Many face disciplinary proceedings and possible sackings from their academic institutions. Signatories have been subject to a campaign of public smear by pro-government press and ultra-nationalist social media users. This has further led to direct attack from fascists that have declared they will 'spill the blood' of the signatories.

The above mentioned statement by the Academics for Peace and the attacks against them unfold in a context of ongoing state violence against Kurds. Since August 2015 there have been 52 curfews imposed on over one million inhabitants in the Kurdish regions of Turkey. In such a context, the recent suppressions on academic freedom, accompanied by imprisonment and death of journalists, activists, students and lawyers, is another sign of deepening authoritarianism of the Turkish state.

We call upon the Turkish government to stop its prosecutions immediately and commit to the principles of academic freedom and free speech.

We reaffirm the Academics for Peace’s call on the Turkish government to cease their hostilities against Kurds and we stand in solidarity with these academics and express our support unconditionally.

To sign this statement, please email your name, your title and institutional affiliation to canadaacademicsforpeace@gmail.com.

List of Signators:

1. Aarzoo Singh, PhD Student, Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto.

2. Akshaya Tankha, Phd Candidate, University of Toronto

3. Akshaya Tankha, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

4. Alex Wilson, Professor, Seneca College

5. Alizee Badson, MA student, University of Toronto

6. Alizee Bodson, MA student, University of Toronto

7. Amir Hassanpour, Associate Professor (Ret.), University of Toronto

8. Andrei Poama, Phd-CRÉ fellow, Université de Montréal

9. Andrew Biro, Professor, Department of Politics, Acadia University

10. Andrew Brown, PhD student, York University

11. Anna M. Agathangelou, Associate Professor, York University

12. Ariel Salzmann, Associate Professor, Queen’s University

13. Asha Jeffers, PhD Candidate, York University

14. Ashley Lebner, Assistant Professor, Department of Religion & Culture, Wilfrid Laurier University

15. Ava Homa, instructor at George Brown College

16. Azam Khatam, PhD, Research Fellow, York University

17. Behzad Sarmadi, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

18. Benjamin Mitchell, PhD (c), York University

19. Berivan Kutlay Sarikaya, Phd Student, University of Toronto

20. Brendan Bruce, Phd Candidate, York University

21. Brendan Bruce, PhD Student, York University

22. Caroline Patsias, Associate professor, Department of political science, UQAM

23. Chandler Davis, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

24. Christina E. Kramer, Professor, University of Toronto

25. Christopher Webb, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto, Department of Geography and Planning

26. Clarice Kuhling, Contract Faculty, Wilfrid Laurier University

27. D. Alissa Trotz, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

28. David Grondin, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa

29. David K. Seitz, Ph.D., Sessional Lecturer, Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto

30. David Ravensbergen, PhD Candidate, Department of Social and Political Thought, York University

31. Deborah Cowen, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

32. Denis Rancourt, former full professor, University of Ottawa

33. Deniz Baser, Phd Student, University of Toronto

34. Dilan Okcuoglu, Phd Candidate, Political Studies, Queen's University

35. Donald Swartz, PhD, Carleton University, Ottawa

36. Dr Judith Cohen, Contract and Adjunct Graduate Faculty (Music), York University

37. Dr. Constantin V. Boundas, Professor Emeritus, Philosophy, Trent University

38. Dr. David Butz, Professor, Department of Geography, Brock University

39. Dr. Ebru Ustundag, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, Department of Geography, Brock University

40. Dr. Karen Robert, Associate Professor, Department of History, St. Thomas University

41. Dr. Natalie Kouri-Towe, PhD, University of Toronto

42. Dr. Nicole S. Cohen, PhD, University of Toronto

43. Dr. Patricia Molloy, Communication Studies Department, Wilfrid Laurier University

44. Dr. Rachel Berger, Associate Professor, History Department, Concordia University

45. Dr. Sedef Arat-Koc, Associate Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Ryerson University

46. Elif Genc, PhD student, New School for Social Research

47. Elise Thorburn, Postdoctoral Fellow, Brock University

48. Elizabeth Dauphinee, Professor, York University

49. Evan Johnston, Resource Coordinator, York University Graduate Students' Association

50. Farzad Omarzadeh, faculty of engineering, University of western ontario

51. Fethi Karakecili, Ph.D Candidate in Ethnomusicology, York University

52. Feyzi Baban, Associate Professor, Political Studies and International Development, Trent University

53. Frédérick Guillaume Dufour, Professeur de sociologie, UQAM

54. Frederick Peters, PhD,, Principal Research Fellow, York University

55. Gale P. Coskan-Johnson, Assistant Prof. of Writing and Rhetoric Chair, Brock University

56. Ganaele Langlois, Assistant Professor, York University

57. Gavin Fridell, Associate Professor, Saint Mary's University

58. Geneviève A. Dumas, PhD, PEng, Professor, Queen's University,

59. Genne Speers, PhD Candidate, York University

60. George C. Comninel, Associate Professor, York University

61. Gokboru S. Tanyildiz, PhD Candidate, York University

62. Greg Albo, Professor, Political Science, York University

63. Gregory Shupak, PhD, University of Guelph-Humber

64. Guertin Tremblay, Professeur de géographie, Cégep Marie-Victorin, Montréal, Québec

65. Gulay Kilicaslan, Phd Student, York University

66. Guliz Akkaymak, Phd candidate, The University of Western Ontario

67. Haideh Moghissi, Professor Emerita and Senior scholar, York University

68. Haroon Akram-Lodhi, Trent University

69. Heather Macfarlane, Assistant Professor, Queen's University

70. Henry Heller, Professor, University of Manitoba

71. Ilan Kapoor, Professor, York University

72. Ingo Brigandt, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of Alberta

73. Irina Ceric, Criminology Instructor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

74. Jaffer Sheyholislami, Associate Professor, Carleton University

75. James A. Reilly, Professor, Modern Middle East History, University of Toronto

76. James Alexander Forbes, PhD Candidate, York University

77. James Davies, PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto

78. James Deutsch, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

79. James Nugent, PhD Candidate-Course Instructor, University of Toronto

80. Jamie Magnusson, Ph.D., Program Coordinator, Adult Education and Community Development, Head, Centre for Women's Studies in Education, Associate Professor, Adult Education, Department of Leadership, Adult and Higher Education, OISE, University of Toronto

81. Janet E. Mullin, PhD, St. Thomas University in Fredericton

82. Jeannette Gaudet, Associate Professor, St. Thomas University

83. Jeff Shantz, Full Time Faculty Member, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

84. Jennifer Cypher, PhD, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Chairperson, CUPE 3903

85. Jenny Wüstenberg, PhD, DAAD Visiting Assistant Professor, York University

86. Jens Hanssen, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

87. João Shannon Pinto Sterrett, PhD Candidate, University of Victoria

88. Jonathan Adjemian, PhD Candidate, York University, Toronto

89. Justin Paulson, Associate Professor, Carleton University

90. Karen Pearlston, PhD, University of New Brunswick

91. Kate Ervine, Assistant Professor, Saint Mary's University

92. Katie Hemsworth, Assistant Professor, Queen's University

93. Kaziwa Salih, PhD, Queen's university

94. Kevin A. Gould, Associate Professor, Concordia University

95. Kevin Pask, Professor, Concordia University

96. Khashayar Hooshiar, Contract faculty, York University

97. Konstantin Kilibarda, Adjunct Lecturer, McMaster University

98. Kristi Allain, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, St. Thomas University

99. Kumru Bilici, Research Assistant, Carleton University, Ottawa

100. Laura G. Pin, PhD Candidate, York University

101. Laurence Packer, professor of biology, York university

102. Laurie E. Adkin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Alberta

103. Leda Raptis, PhD, Queen’s University

104. Lisa Mills, Associate Professor, Carleton University

105. Luin Goldring, Professor, Sociology, York University, Toronto

106. Luke Roelofs, PhD Graduate, University of Toronto

107. M. Derya Tarhan, PhD Student, University of Toronto

108. Maggie Sager, Masters Student, Near and Middle Eastern Cultures, University of Toronto

109. Mahiye Seçil Daǧtaș, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Waterloo

110. Maral salek, Graduate Student, Ryerson University

111. Mathieu Forcier, Doctorant en sociologie, Université de Montréal

112. Matt Jones, Course Instructor, Drama and Performance Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough

113. Max Haiven, Assistant Professor, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

114. Melissa Levin, PhD, University of Toronto

115. Michael Lambek, FRSC Canada Research Chair & Chair , University of Toronto

116. Mustafa Koc, Professor, Ryerson University

117. Natalie Zemon Davis, Professor, University of Toronto

118. Nicole Laliberte, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

119. Nil Basdurak, PhD in Ethnomusicology, University of Toronto

120. Noa Shaindlinger, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

121. Omar Sirri, PhD Student, University of Toronto

122. Oscar Jarzmik, PhD candidate, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto

123. Ozlem Aslan, Phd Student, University of Toronto

124. Paul Kingston, Associate Professor, Political Science Director, University of Toronto

125. Ratiba HADJ-MOUSSA, Associate Professor, Sociology, York University, Toronto

126. Rinaldo Walcott, Associate Professor, University of Toronto

127. Robert Brym, FRSC SD Clark Professor, University of Toronto

128. Saeed Rahnema, Professor rtd., York University

129. Saman Lagzi, Graduate Student, University of Waterloo

130. Samuel Walker,Ph.D. Candidate, University of Toronto

131. Sandra Smele, PhD Candidate, York University

132. Sandra Whitworth, Professor, Political Science, York University

133. Sara Carpenter, PhD, Assistant Professor | Adult, Community, and Higher Education, Department of Educational Policy Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

134. Sarah T. Roberts, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS), Western University

135. Sardar Saadi, PhD student, University of Toronto

136. Scott Forsyth, Associate Professor, York University

137. Secil Dagtas, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo

138. Secil Erdogan, Assistant Professor, York University

139. Selmin Kara, Assistant Professor, OCAD University

140. Sergio R. Arcaro, English Instructor, Centennial College

141. Shawn Blizzard,MS Student, York University

142. Sheila Wilmot, PhD, Course Instructor, Ryerson University, Toronto

143. Siavash Saffari, PhD, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Columbia University

144. Sona Kazemi, Phd student, University of Toronto

145. Srdja Pavlovic, PhD, University of Alberta

146. Stephanie Bethune, MA Candidate, University of Victoria

147. Stephen L. Newman, Associate Professor, York University

148. Steven Tufts, Associate Proffesor, York University

149. Teresa Heffernan, Professor, Department of English, Saint Mary's University

150. Terry Maley, PhD, Associate Professor and MA Coordinator, Department of Political Science, York University

151. Tracy Glynn, Lecturer, St. Thomas University

152. Val Marie Johnson, Associate Professor, Sociology, Criminology, Women & Gender Studies, Saint Mary's University

153. Vinh Nguyen, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Renison University College, University of Waterloo

154. Vivian Solana, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

155. William Payne, PhD Candidate - Critical Human Geography, York University

Dear colleagues
For those who are based in Paris, we will organize a meeting on Monday at 7 PM at the Amphitheatre of the EHESS (105, Bd Raspail, m° Notre-Dame-des-Champs or Saint-Placide).
Best regards

GIT FRance

Groupe de travail international (GIT)

« Liberté de recherche et d’enseignement en Turquie »

Conférence de Presse & Réunion de solidarité

Lundi 18 JANVIER

19h - 21h

Amphitéâtre François Furet

105 Bd Raspail 75006 PARIS

Prétextant une pétition dénonçant la violence d'Etat dans les villes kurdes de Turquie, le pouvoir d'Erdogan a lancé depuis quelque jours une campagne d'intimidation à l'encontre des chercheurs et universitaires du pays. Le vocabulaire utilisé par le Président turc et ses proches ("trahison", "cinquième colonne", "forces obscures", "brouillons d'intellectuels"), la campagne de presse d'une rare virulence et les gardes à vue à répétition, nécessite une mobilisation des universitaires en France et dans le monde. Cette conférence de presse et la réunion qui la suivra aura pour objectif d'informer la presse des menaces qui pèsent sur les universités en Turquie, ainsi que de réfléchir collectivement aux actions de solidarité avec nos collègues poursuivis.

Urgent Call, today, January 15, 2016

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:

http://factsonturkey.org/24077/academics-researchers-in-turkey-call-for-immediate-end-to-violence-in-kurdish-areas/

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:

‪https://www.change.org/p/urgent-call-for-action-following-the-ankara-massacre/u/14957238?recruiter=13403853&utm_source=share_update&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=facebook_link

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,

Academics for Peace

Nouvelle pétition en Turquie

Bildiri metni

Biz aşağıda imzası olan akademisyenler, fikir ve ifade özgürlüğü ilkesine bağlıyız ve bu ilkenin akademik yaşamın temel unsuru olduğuna inanıyoruz. Bu temelde, ülkedeki çatışma ortamıyla ilgili kişisel değerlendirmelerimizden bağımsız olarak, siyasi iradenin ve YÖK’ün çok sayıda üniversite mensubunun imzaladığı “Bu suça ortak olmayacağız” başlıklı bildiriye karşı gösterdiği tepkiyi yanlış ve kaygı verici buluyoruz.

İfade özgürlüğü olmadan demokrasi olmaz. Üniversite ve akademisyenin görevi akıl yürütme ve vicdan muhakemesi sonunda vardığı fikirleri toplumuyla paylaşmaktır. Fikrin eleştirilmesi demokrasinin, fikri ifade edenin cezalandırılması ise otoriterliğin niteliğidir. Akademisyenlerin ülke sorunlarıyla ilgili dile getirdikleri görüşlerinin siyasi irade tarafından cezalandırılmaya çalışılması, akademik özgürlüklere darbedir. Böyle darbeler herşeyden önce toplumsal gelişmeyi durdurur.

Ülke demokrasisine verilecek en büyük zarar, fikri söylemek değil, fikri ifade ettirmemektir.

ifadeozgurlugutr@gmail.com

Une pétition a été lancée en Allemagne.

https://www.change.org/p/hochschulangeh%C3%B6rige-an-deutschen-hochschulen-keine-repression-f%C3%BCr-die-akademiker-des-friedensaufrufes-in-der-t%C3%BCrkei?recruiter=32641539&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive