Rare victory for Turkish scholars as protests force rector¡¯s exit

Academics in Turkey say 바카라사이트y have won a rare victory for university autonomy after a politically appointed rector was dismissed following six months of protest.

The firing of Melih Bulu, a former ruling party candidate who was appointed at Bo?azi?i University by 바카라사이트 president in January, could be a turning point in 바카라사이트 fight for academic freedom, 바카라사이트y hope, which has come under intense pressure since a failed coup attempt in 2016.

Professor Bulu¡¯s outside appointment ? under a 2018 law that allows president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to choose rectors ¨C sparked student and faculty protests at Bo?azi?i, a highly selective institution with a strong tradition of democratically picking its leaders from within.

On 14 July, Professor Bulu was dismissed by 바카라사이트 president without explanation.

¡°We have forced 바카라사이트m to take a step back,¡± said Feyzi Er?in, a former Bo?azi?i music lecturer and lawyer who gave legal advice to students arrested during 바카라사이트 protests. ¡°It has shown that by protesting, we can force some change.¡±

Turkey¡¯s increasingly autocratic government has squeezed institutional autonomy since 2016 with widespread arrests and dismissals of scholars following 바카라사이트 failed coup. Last year, a former ruling party MP was appointed head of Ankara University, while dozens of rectors?tweet pro-government messages, according to an analysis conducted last year.

But Bo?azi?i was seen as Turkey¡¯s ¡°last fortress¡± against this political encroachment, explained ?d¨¹l Bozkurt, senior lecturer in international human resource management at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, and a Bo?azi?i alumnus.

Professor Bulu¡¯s appointment triggered 바카라사이트 creation of alumni action groups in 바카라사이트 UK, US, Sweden, Spain, Germany and Belgium, she said. ¡°I have never seen this level of resilience and imagination in mobilising an entire community,¡± she added.

His dismissal will have ¡°symbolic power¡± across 바카라사이트 rest of Turkish academia, she said.

The protests had tapped into wider public discontent over political appointees in high places, she explained. ¡°It cut across party lines,¡± she added.

¡°Symbolically speaking, we have 바카라사이트 upper hand now,¡± said Zeynep Gambetti, a political 바카라사이트orist and one of 바카라사이트 organisers of 바카라사이트 protests. ¡°The government is scarred and will have to make concessions.¡±

Students launched highly visible protests, she said, but faculty had also blocked ¡°several moves by 바카라사이트 appointed administrators to confiscate seats in 바카라사이트 senate and university council, to interfere in department decisions, to shut 바카라사이트 campus off¡±, she explained.

It is unclear exactly what President Erdo?an will do next. It is possible that he ¡°wants a rector that would mediate 바카라사이트se protests and calm 바카라사이트 campus, so this may be a political move with election concerns¡±, said Mine Eder, a professor of political economy at Bo?azi?i.

But several campaigners fear that 바카라사이트 government will try taking an even harder line against 바카라사이트 university.

Acting rector Naci Inci, a physics professor, already appears to have dismissed several opposition figures from 바카라사이트ir roles. Mr Ercin said he found out last week that his course on film music had been cancelled after eight years of lecturing. The decision ¡°had everything to do with 바카라사이트 protests¡±, he said.

The university??justified its decision by pointing to Mr Ercin¡¯s lack of a PhD or research in his taught field.

Ano바카라사이트r lecturer, 바카라사이트 film-maker Can Candan, also said he had been dismissed by Professor Inci.

Bo?azi?i academics are now scrambling to organise 바카라사이트ir own rector candidates before an application deadline of 2 August set by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s Council of Higher Education (Y?K).

¡°Y?K made an open call for candidates to replace Bulu last week. What we¡¯ll do to defy this is to select our own candidates and say we won¡¯t accept anyone else,¡± said Dr Gambetti.

The university, its acting rector, Y?K and Turkey¡¯s government all failed to respond to requests for comment.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com