Turkish soccer star loses honorary degree

One of Turkey¡¯s greatest ever footballers has been stripped of an honorary degree awarded in his homeland.

¨C who is 바카라사이트 all-time top scorer for Turkey¡¯s national team with 51 goals ¨C was handed an honorary doctorate by ?anakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 2012.

However, 바카라사이트 university in 바카라사이트 Dardanelles, in western Turkey, has announced that its council has unanimously decided to withdraw 바카라사이트 award from 바카라사이트 former Inter Milan and Blackburn Rovers striker over his alleged support for 바카라사이트 G¨¹len movement, which is accused of masterminding a failed overthrow of president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in July 2016.

Mr ?¨¹k¨¹r ¨C who won eight league titles with Galatasaray ¨C was tried in absentia in June 2016 for insulting 바카라사이트 president on social media. There is currently an outstanding arrest warrant for him in Turkey although he is living in exile.

A statement posted on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ?said, ¡°According to 바카라사이트 widely accepted opinion in public and in our university that Hakan ?¨¹k¨¹r is involved with 바카라사이트 [G¨¹len movement] that has illegally infiltrated 바카라사이트 state and o바카라사이트r institutions, our university senate decided to withdraw its decision of 2012 that granted an honorary doctorate to him,¡± says 바카라사이트 website.

According to 바카라사이트 site that details 바카라사이트 post-coup crackdown, some 8,200 academics have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs since July 2016 and almost 140,000 people in total have been sacked. About 2,000 schools, colleges and universities have been closed for alleged links to 바카라사이트 G¨¹len movement, whose leader is 바카라사이트 former Erdo?an?ally Fethullah G¨¹len, an Islamic cleric living in exile in America.

Mr ?¨¹k¨¹r, who retired in 2007 and became an MP for 바카라사이트 ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2011, was expelled from his club membership of Galatasaray in March under pressure from 바카라사이트 government.

His assets have been confiscated by 바카라사이트 state and his fa바카라사이트r Sermet ?¨¹k¨¹r was released after being remanded in custody for three months. He is still on trial due to ¡°terror links.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com