19 Mayıs University Launches Investigation against 6 Peace Statement Signees

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Presidency of Samsun 19 Mayıs University has initiated an investigation against six academics who signed the statement titled “We will not be a party to this crime”.

Doğan News Agency reports that Vice Chancellor Assistant Professor Dr. Cem Gençoğlu has stated that an investigation has been launched on the basis of the Council of Higher Education Disciplinary Regulations due to some expressions in the text.

“We will conduct administrative investigation. Necessary procedures will be performed based on the result of the investigation in line with the decision to be made by investigator”.  

What had happened?

1,128 academics and researchers from 89 universities in Turkey and that over 355 academics from abroad such as Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler, Etienne Balibar and David Harvey signed the text titled “We will not be a party to this crime” calling on state of Turkey to end violence and curfews in Kurdish cities.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blaming the signees had said, “You will whether side with the state or terrorists and the terror organization”.

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) said, “What is necessary will be done within the frame of law as to this statement”.

Investigation has been launched against Assistant Professor Dr. Hülya Doğan, the Head of Anthropology Department at Bartın University.

Abdullah Gül University Presidency has demanded resignation of Prof. Dr. Bülent Tanju who is one of the signees. (NV/TK)