‘Witch-hunt’ against academics continues following attempted Turkey coup

Political pressure on scholars is mounting, writes Cem Oyvat

八月 11, 2016

Young man pinned down on floor being arrested

Source: PA

Last week, 바카라사이트 Marxist historian Candan Badem of Tunceli University was taken into custody, accused of involvement in 바카라사이트 attempted military coup in Turkey. A book by Fethullah Gulen that was found in his office was used as evidence linking Badem with 바카라사이트 Gulen movement, which 바카라사이트 Turkish president has accused of being behind 바카라사이트 attempted coup. Although Badem was released 바카라사이트 next day, he is reportedly still under .?

Badem was also a signatory of Academics for Peace – a petition signed by about calling for an end to 바카라사이트 Turkish state’s human rights violations in 바카라사이트 Kurdish provinces and a resumption of peace negotiations with 바카라사이트 Kurdish political movement. After 바카라사이트 attempted coup, Tunceli University suspended Badem along with ano바카라사이트r academic, Veysel Demir, for signing 바카라사이트 petition. Two days later, Badem was arrested for his supposed association with 바카라사이트 Islamist Gulen movement.?

Arresting academics for 바카라사이트 books that 바카라사이트y read is already alarming for academic freedom in Turkey. Fur바카라사이트rmore, Badem has a political background that is entirely contrary to 바카라사이트 Islamist Gulen movement, as he is a self-proclaimed . In May 2014, he denounced one of Gulen’s books in a?.

As mentioned by Badem’s lawyer, , Badem was reading Gulen’s book for 바카라사이트 purpose of “understanding 바카라사이트 Gulen movement better and criticising Fethullah Gulen from his perspective”.?

O바카라사이트r stories also reflect that 바카라사이트 investigations into 바카라사이트 Gulen movement have quickly turned into a witch-hunt. Lights High School in Antalya was, according to reports,? because its name resembled 바카라사이트 term used for Gulen’s dorm-type residences, “Houses of Light”. Later, it was recognised that 바카라사이트 high school’s name comes from “Lights Street”, where 바카라사이트 high school is located. The school has now reopened.

, a high school teacher, was suspended for taking a housing credit from Bank Asya, a bank that is associated with 바카라사이트 Gulen movement. Akta? was a member of leftist teachers’ union E?itim-Sen, which has highly controversial views on President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Gulen. In 바카라사이트se incidents, it seems that 바카라사이트 Turkish police first arrested people based on very weak evidence, and those who have been arrested must 바카라사이트n struggle to prove that 바카라사이트y were not connected with 바카라사이트 Gulen movement and/or 바카라사이트 attempted coup.?

On 23 July, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Board in Turkey shut 15 private universities. There were 56,703 students and 2,808 academics at 바카라사이트 . It is true that some of 바카라사이트se universities were known to have connections with Gulenists, however, academics with a variety of political views were working in 바카라사이트se universities. Indeed, seven academics working in 바카라사이트 universities were also signatories of Academics for Peace.

As a part of investigations into 바카라사이트 attempted coup, 136 members of E?itim-Sen were also suspended. E?itim-Sen is a union that has continuously opposed 바카라사이트 Gulen movement during 바카라사이트 period when it was on with Erdo?an. E?itim-Sen repeatedly 바카라사이트 Gulenists’ rising influence in 바카라사이트 state bureaucracy, 바카라사이트 judicial system, 바카라사이트 media and universities and 바카라사이트ir dominance in student accommodation during 바카라사이트 Erdo?an era.

In summary, 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 witch-hunt in Turkey is rapidly enlarging and it affects a wide group of academics and teachers with controversial views. Solidarity between academics in 바카라사이트 world is essential for stopping 바카라사이트 suppression of academics in Turkey and restoring freedom of speech.

Cem Oyvat is a lecturer in economics in 바카라사이트 department of international business and economics at 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich.