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Scholars at Risk (SAR) has announced Turkey’s Academics for Peace (Barış İçin Akademisyenler) as recipients of the 2018 Courage to Think Defender Award, for their extraordinary efforts in building academic solidarity and in promoting the principles of academic freedom, freedom of inquiry, and the peaceful exchange of ideas. The award, which will be presented at the Scholars at Risk Network 2018 Global Congress, will be accepted on behalf of the group by Muzaffer Kaya, of Technische Universität Berlin, and Tebessüm Yılmaz, of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

35th Heavy Penal Court combined 10 cases that were heard today. The next hearing will be held on October 18.

Second hearings of 10 academics, who have been charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for having signed the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by the Academics for Peace, were held at 35th Heavy Penal Court in İstanbul Courthouse today (April 12).

Two academics from Arel University and Işık University have had their second hearings at 32nd Heavy Penal Court. The court board has granted additional time for the statements of defence upon the presentation of excuses by their attorney.

Five academics have had their first hearings at two different courts. The 24th Heavy Penal Court Board has granted the academics additional time so that they can prepare their statements of defence regarding the allegation of “aiding a terrorist organization as non-members.”