A group of academics called ‘Academics for Peace’ demanded an end to curfews and human rights violations emphasizing the “state violence’. They signed a petition with a call for peace and stopping the violence. These academics were threatened by the President, who stated that High Council of Education would take the required action, the government and the media. Proceedings were started.
As the result of the proceedings of the Kocaeli Public Prosecutor, it was decided to detain 21 academics who signed the petition with the charges of “overtly insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state” and “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. This morning, 14 academics were detained in their houses in an unlawful manner. Detention operations were not limited to Kocaeli. In Bolu, 3 academics were detained after the house raids early this morning. Yesterday, order of arrest was issued for our member Latife Akyuz from Duzce University. It is unlawful to make raids to the houses of these academics and to issue order of arrest for them while their house and work addresses are known and they would go to make a deposition when they are called upon by the authorities. The aim is to break the courage of the people who want peace and contest the policies of the government and to threaten the entire society through them.
The academics who have been targeted by the police operations and media besides the President and the government, were also exposed to the threats and attacks of some violent nationalist groups. The fact that at some universities and especially at Gazi University, academics’ rooms were crossed and that they were threatened via some notes left on their doors remind one the events happened right before the massacres of Corum and Maras in the past. University administrations unfortunately let go these groups threatening academics at their doors even though there are security cameras in every corridor at the universities. The only way to stop the course of these dangerous events is to respect freedom of thought and expression within democratic conventions. For quite some time, the President and AKP government implemented policies that have polarized the society and this tension has been reflected to the streets.
After all, freedom of thought and expression are among the basic human rights such as right to life, housing and food. We cannot talk about freedom of association, freedom to demonstration, union rights and academic freedom where there is no freedom of thought and expression. We cannot talk about democracy, basic human rights and freedoms where there is no freedom of thought and expression. It is the responsibility of the President, AKP government and the juridical institutions to ensure that these rights can be executed by everyone instead of abolishing these rights.
AKP’s policies have led Turkey to become a country where the rights and freedoms are severely restrained, where negotiations and democracy are canceled and where fascist implementations increased.
Unfortunately at this moment, saying “Let kids not die” is considered a crime and defending basic rights and freedoms is perceived as the real threat.
We, as Eğitim Sen, demand that the life security of all academics signed this petition to be ensured and state once again that we support all academics with our organized power. Detention operations should be stopped and detained friends should be immediately freed. Precautions should be taken against lynch campaigns and investigations should be started about people who threaten academics and researchers. It should be known that the academics and researchers of this country who called for peace are not alone. As an organization tested in the past by pressure, investigations, detentions, deaths, we will not submit to these pressures and continue to be the defender of peace, human rights, equality and freedom.
Education and Science Workers’ Union from Turkey (Egitim Sen)