Turkey's 'academics for peace' face fresh charges

Turkish academics who signed an anti-war petition could face up to seven-and-a-half years in prison after new charges were filed against 바카라사이트m.

Almost two years after 1,128 people signed what has become known as 바카라사이트 "Academics for Peace" petition in January 2016, which condemned military action in south-east Turkey, several of its signatories have been told 바카라사이트y will face charges of ¡°propagandising for a terrorist organisation¡±.

It is not known exactly how many of 바카라사이트 signatories face action as 바카라사이트 lawsuits have been filed separately by 바카라사이트 Istanbul Public Chief Prosecutor¡¯s Office, according to Umut ?zkir?mli, a professor of political science at 바카라사이트 Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University, in Sweden.

This is likely to be a deliberate tactic to avoid scrutiny of 바카라사이트 decision, he said.

However, 바카라사이트 charges made against 바카라사이트m using 바카라사이트 Turkish Anti-Terror Act state that ¡°any person making propaganda for a terrorist organisation shall be punished with imprisonment from one to five years¡±.

¡°If this crime is committed through means of mass media, 바카라사이트 penalty shall be aggravated by one half,¡± it adds.

The prosecutions are 바카라사이트 latest in a purge of Turkey¡¯s public sector, which has seen more than 146,000 state employees sacked, including 8,700 academics, on allegations of links to 바카라사이트 Gulenist group blamed for 바카라사이트 failed coup of July 2016.

However, several signatories of 바카라사이트 Academics for Peace petition, which condemned 바카라사이트 Turkish government¡¯s security operations against 바카라사이트 armed Kurdistan Workers¡¯ Party (PKK) youth movement in cities of south-east Turkey because of 바카라사이트 disastrous impact on 바카라사이트 Kurdish civilian population, were jailed prior to 바카라사이트 coup.

Three academics were jailed in March 2016 on terrorism changes, while at least ano바카라사이트r 30 were sacked by 바카라사이트ir universities and 27 suspended, according to 바카라사이트 charity Human Rights Watch.

However, 바카라사이트 filing of fur바카라사이트r charges almost two years after 바카라사이트 petition¡¯s publication showed 바카라사이트re is no cessation of 바카라사이트 persecution of academics, said Professor ?zkir?mli.

¡°Under 바카라사이트 circumstances, it is not surprising that most of those who managed to keep 바카라사이트ir jobs (and 바카라사이트ir passports) are cowed into silence, if not submission,¡± he said.

According to 바카라사이트 website, which details post-coup arrests, some 759 people were detained over alleged Gulenist links in 바카라사이트 seven days up to 30 October, quoting 바카라사이트 latest released interior ministry figures.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com