Assoc. Professor Dr. Kemal Inal from Gazi University, who was threatened while signing the Academics for Peace declaration and then removed his signature, and signee Professor Dr. Ali Çeliksöz from Cumhuriyet University said they don’t know the reasons behind their decisions to be suspended.

Of the signees of the Academics for Peace “We Will Not Be a Party to this Crime” declaration, two academics at Gazi University and three academics at Cumhuriyet University were suspended.

Last week, the Marxist historian Candan Badem of Tunceli University was taken into custody, accused of involvement in the attempted military coup in Turkey. A book by Fethullah Gulen that was found in his office was used as evidence linking Badem with the Gulen movement, which the Turkish president has accused of being behind the attempted coup. Although Badem was released the next day, he is reportedly still under judicial control. 

A crackdown on Turkey’s higher education sector is hurting international academic collaborations and student and scholar exchanges.

The British Academy, the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh deplore the attempted military coup d’état in Turkey. In keeping with the democratic principles which have been secured, we urge that the state’s responses towards individuals and offices thought to be involved be fully compliant with the rules and norms of democratic government, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights. We are particularly concerned that these be observed in relation to the academic and research community in Turkey, where our sister academies have unequivocally condemned the coup. We are disturbed to hear that in the coup’s aftermath the Turkish Government has asked over 1,500 university deans to resign, and has placed a ban on all academics travelling abroad. Freedom of expression, due process, and the free mobility of researchers provide the bedrock of the academic endeavour in a democratic society