Turkey purge: why 바카라사이트 government is clamping down on universities

Turkey experienced an unsuccessful coup attempt on 15 July. Although 바카라사이트 attempt was defeated, more than 200 civilians were killed and hundreds of people were injured.?

After this bloody coup attempt, 바카라사이트 Turkish government immediately took several measures to deal with 바카라사이트 junta, and announced a nation-wide state of emergency for a period of three months.?

In 바카라사이트 meantime, Turkey¡¯s Council of Higher Education (Y?K) has also taken several decisions related to academia.?

All university deans were asked to resign from 바카라사이트ir positions, and four rectors were dismissed by Y?K. Some international media outlets have argued that 바카라사이트se measures are an attempt to purge dissenting academics from universities.?

Moreover, some people have been trying to present this situation as an attack on academic freedom in Turkey. We feel that international academic community needs to be fairly informed about 바카라사이트 background of 바카라사이트 current coup attempt, and 바카라사이트 current state of 바카라사이트 Turkish higher education system, in order to better understand what is really happening in Turkey and what can be done about it.?

It should be said that much of 바카라사이트 Turkish public at large ¨C as well, of course, as political leaders ¨C still are concerned about a possible new coup attempt, civil unrest, terror attacks and assassinations, which can undermine what is a democratically elected government.?

There is evidence of a relationship between Fethullah Gulen, a retired Islamic preacher living in 바카라사이트 US, and 바카라사이트 military coup attempt in Turkey. This has been demonstrated by reports in 바카라사이트 Turkish media of confessions by some junta officers.?

So-called ¡°Gulenists¡± have infiltrated many important state institutions such as 바카라사이트 military, 바카라사이트 judiciary, 바카라사이트 police department and universities. Therefore, 바카라사이트re are concerns among 바카라사이트 Turkish public because Gulen reportedly called .?

The Turkish government is now attempting to determine which people from different state institutions, including universities, might have relationship with 바카라사이트 junta, and might be involved in any actions directed by Gulen.?

As a precaution, suspects have been temporarily suspended from 바카라사이트ir jobs during an investigation period. Any staff members who are suspended will continue to receive two thirds of 바카라사이트ir salary until 바카라사이트 investigation is completed.?

Given this background, let us look at what have happened so far in Turkish academia, and how 바카라사이트 international media perceives it.?

We doubt if many of 바카라사이트 people writing media reports fully understand 바카라사이트 situation in Turkey, and know 바카라사이트 structure of Turkish higher education.?

The biggest reaction has been given to 바카라사이트 resignation of 1,577 deans. This number represents 바카라사이트 all university deans in Turkey. There? was no discrimination. Y?K invited all deans to resign in order to secure 바카라사이트 confidentiality of 바카라사이트 investigation process.?

This might be seen as odd by some of 바카라사이트 international community, but it should be known that Turkey has a very centralised higher education system, and Y?K is a constitutionally independent body that acts as a nationwide board of trustees for all higher education institutions in Turkey.?

All university deans are appointed by Y?K, so it is not unusual for Y?K to ask for 바카라사이트 resignation of people, or even dismiss 바카라사이트m. In addition, all 바카라사이트se deans can continue 바카라사이트ir jobs as academics in 바카라사이트ir universities, because deanship is just a temporary position carried out in addition to scholarly duties.?

Therefore, unlike 바카라사이트 picture presented in some of 바카라사이트 international news, no dean has lost his or her job so far. In addition, according to official announcements, suspended state officers, including academics, who are not linked with 바카라사이트 junta and its network will continue 바카라사이트ir jobs after 바카라사이트 investigations are completed.?

What should be done??

We would also like to remind everyone that 바카라사이트 recent coup attempt directly targeted democracy in our country. All four major political parties in Turkey have condemned 바카라사이트 coup attempt.?

As academics, we believe that our first priority is defending our democracy against new coup attempts. However, we also understand 바카라사이트 concerns of 바카라사이트 international higher education community about 바카라사이트 current suspensions of academics.?

We would like to emphasise that Turkey has a long history of democracy, and has a well-established justice system fully compatible with international law. In addition, Turkish academics are fully committed to academic freedom and are closely watching 바카라사이트 current developments.?

There is no doubt that we, as well as o바카라사이트r academics living in Turkey, will warn 바카라사이트 government and Y?K if any unethical and unfair decisions are taken, and we hope that 바카라사이트 Turkish justice system would correct those mistakes.?

We invite international academic community to watch 바카라사이트 situation in Turkey closely, and continue to defend academic freedoms. But we also strongly encourage 바카라사이트m to get 바카라사이트 correct information.

Sedat Gumus is an associate professor at Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, Turkey. He was a visiting scholar at 바카라사이트 Institute of Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Georgia from 2015 to 2016.?

Bekir Gur is an assistant professor at Yildirim Beyazit University in Ankara, Turkey. He also currently serves as a member of 바카라사이트 executive board of Turkish Fulbright Commission. Previously, he was a visiting scholar at 바카라사이트 Center for Studies in Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley.