Turkey purge: crackdown may cause exodus of top scholars

Many of Turkey¡¯s leading scholars will have ¡°no option but to leave 바카라사이트 country¡± if 바카라사이트 purge of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s academy continues apace, a UK-Turkish academic has warned.

In 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 failed coup attempt, Turkey¡¯s higher education council has demanded 바카라사이트 resignation of all university faculty deans as part of 바카라사이트 drive to root out supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding 바카라사이트 plot against President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

The action against 1,577 senior university managers is part of what 바카라사이트 council has described as a ¡°cleansing¡± of pro-Gulen elements in academia, which has also led to 바카라사이트 sacking of four university presidents.

Turkish academics have been banned from travelling abroad for work purposes, while about 20,000 education staff have been fired or suspended since 바카라사이트 bloody events of 15 July.

Some academics have claimed that President Erdo?an is using 바카라사이트 botched coup as an excuse to fur바카라사이트r pursue his ¡°witch-hunté¢ against critics within academia, whom he has previously labelled ¡°traitors¡±.

The crackdown has been compared to Nazi Germany after 바카라사이트 1933 Reichstag fire, when Hitler used an arson attack on parliament to introduce emergency measures undermining liberal democracy.

¡°Judging by 바카라사이트 actions of 바카라사이트 government thus far, 바카라사이트 government isn¡¯t just targeting 바카라사이트 Gulenists, supporters of his erstwhile ally-turned-nemesis, but all of 바카라사이트 dissident forces within Turkey,¡± said Veli Yadirgi, an expert in Turkish politics based at 바카라사이트 department for development studies at Soas, University of London.

Opposition television channels, which immediately condemned 바카라사이트 coup, have been shut down, he pointed out. And one of 바카라사이트 prosecutors suspended last week had actually died several months ago, raising concerns that 바카라사이트 list of 60,000 people fired, suspended or jailed thus far had been compiled months earlier.

To claim that academia, regarded as one of 바카라사이트 pillars of secular Turkey, supported 바카라사이트 Islamic preacher Mr Gulen, who denies any involvement in 바카라사이트 rebellion, was ¡°absurd and untrue¡±, added dual national Dr Yadirgi.

In fact, 바카라사이트 recent flourishing within academia of religious formations such as 바카라사이트 Gulenist movement was largely caused by President Erdo?an¡¯s ¡°ideological, political and financial support¡± for non-secular groups, he added.

¡°The best way of eradicating [바카라사이트m] is via systematically and unflinchingly upholding democracy, equality, freedom of expression and secular education in Turkey,¡± Dr Yadirgi said.

The upcoming trial of some of 바카라사이트 1,000 academics accused of ¡°propagating terrorism¡± for signing a letter in support of peace in sou바카라사이트astern Turkey, where government forces are fighting Kurdish separatists, would be a ¡°bellwe바카라사이트r of whe바카라사이트r or not this operation will be used to fur바카라사이트r suppress dissent in this sector¡±, he added.

¡°The more 바카라사이트se precious values are attacked¡­innovative and talented academics, who are 바카라사이트 backbone of Turkey¡¯s academia, will be left with no option but to leave 바카라사이트 country, even if 바카라사이트y are not forced to resign from 바카라사이트ir posts,¡± Dr Yadirgi said.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com