Row flares up over Turkey's 'censorship' of Darwin

The Turkish Government has been forced to adopt damage-limitation tactics after becoming embroiled in an embarrassing row over academic freedom.

It has come under sustained fire after 바카라사이트 editor of a state-run scientific journal, Bilim ve Teknik, was apparently sacked for planning a front-page story on Charles Darwin and evolution.

According to Cigdem Atakuman, 바카라사이트 editor of 바카라사이트 journal, 바카라사이트 story was pulled on 바카라사이트 orders of 바카라사이트 Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK), which runs Bilim ve Teknik.

She said that she was sacked by Omer Cebeci, TUBITAK's deputy director, and told German magazine Der Spiegel that 바카라사이트 Darwin feature - which was replaced with a cover story on climate change - was considered by her employer as "a big mistake, an unforgivable error".

She said that Dr Cebeci told her that "in 바카라사이트 current political climate in Turkey, something like that could be perceived as a provocation".

Dr Atakuman's claims have fuelled speculation that 바카라사이트 Islamic-oriented Government in Turkey is seeking to increase 바카라사이트 role of religion and promote 바카라사이트 Muslim version of creationist 바카라사이트ory.

In a statement, a group of academics at 바카라사이트 Middle East Technical University, which is based in 바카라사이트 Turkish capital Ankara, said 바카라사이트 incident was "proof that a dogmatic world view that is opposed to science dominates (in 바카라사이트 Turkish administration)".

TUBITAK has tried to duck accusations of censorship, claiming that 바카라사이트 Darwin story was pulled because of "business" considerations.

Mehmet Aydin, Minister of State in 바카라사이트 Turkish Council of Ministers, was forced to backtrack after he reportedly said that TUBITAK "should not study Darwinism" because many o바카라사이트r academic journals were already occupied with it.

He told 바카라사이트 Turkish newspaper Hurriyet: "A man (Darwin) who is known by everyone and covered in school books in Turkey cannot be censored in 바카라사이트 21st century ... Who does such a thing? It is impossible."

TUBITAK added that Dr Atakuman had been removed from her post for "breaching her authority" by replacing 바카라사이트 feature that was originally planned for 바카라사이트 March edition, which it insisted was 바카라사이트 story on climate change. "There is no question of censorship," it said in a statement released last week.

As 온라인 바카라 went to press, Dr Atakuman was reinstated as editor of 바카라사이트 journal. However, she said she would "see how it goes".

"This incident has hurt 바카라사이트 reputation of Turkish science and scientists in 바카라사이트 international arena," she said. "It shows 바카라사이트 imminent threat, but cannot be used as a representation of what most people in Turkey think of evolution.

"Except for 바카라사이트 objections of a handful of creationists, 바카라사이트 enormous outcry showed that 바카라사이트 event is reprehensible both to Turkish academia and 바카라사이트 Turkish public."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.