Stop Punitive Measures Against Turkish Academics – Defend the Principles of Academic Freedom!

Petizione indirizzata a: Gouvernmental Authorities of the Republic of Turkey

As academics who research and teach across various disciplines at universities throughout Europe and beyond, we are deeply concerned that in the previous weeks many Turkish academics, teachers and civil servants have been subjected to investigation and grave intimidation by state authorities. A number of Turkish academics have also been dismissed from their posts at Turkish universities. Amongst them, apparently, are academics who had signed a peace petition in January 2016 which called on the Turkish government to reopen peace negotiations with the PKK and to end state violence against the Kurdish population.

We cherish and defend the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression, and we believe there can be no progress in science and scholarship without respect for human rights. It is unacceptable that the Turkish government has taken punitive measures against Turkish colleagues of high international standing simply because they exercised their right to voice their concerns about the state’s use of violence for political ends.