Trial of Öcalan Question Starts

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The first trial of Assist. Prof. Dr. Barış Ünlü from Ankara University, Faculty of Politics indicted for his exam question charged with “propagandizing for terror” and “praising crime and criminal” starts tomorrow (February 3).

Education Union (Eğitim-Sen) Ankara No. 5 Branch of Universities, Ankara Freedom to Opinion Initiative, Dipnot Publishing attending the trial have called for solidarity with Ünlü.

Exam question has become justification of trial

Here is the question that led Ünlü to be judged:

“Compare the brochure dated 1978 titled ‘Path of Kurdistan Revolution / Manifest’ and 2012 dated article titled ‘Democratic Modernity as New System Construction in the Middle East’ written by Abdullah Öcalan with respect to concepts / facts such as colony, nation-state, revolutionary violence, democracy. Do it in a way to cover changes occurring in Turkey and all over the World, and transformations of Kurdish movement / Kurdish society in the past 34 years”.

Ankara Chief Prosecution has launched an investigation after the question was reflected on media. Ünlü rejecting the accusations said he had no intention to propagandize for terror organization and the course subject was Kurdish question.

Public Prosecutor Aytekin Cenikli has demanded up to 7 years of jail term for Ünlü over “propagandizing for terror” and “praising crime and criminal”.

Eğitim Sen: Scientific freedom must be protected

Eğitim Sen has emphasized scientific freedom.

“We as colleagues of Ünlü, see having primary sources studied and formulate question departing from that essential to our duty in a Kurdish question oriented course focusing on political issues in Turkey.

“We suppose protecting scientific freedom will be more important and meaningful than ever”.

Dipnot Publihsing: Intervention in academic freedom

Dipnot Publishing too has expressed that they are proud of being his publisher and are in solidarity with him:

“Freedom of expression and thought is a basic human right. Discussing and analyzing all sorts of thoughts at universities is sine qua non of academic freedom.

“We see the exam question prepared by Barış Ünlü being subjected to investigation as an intervention in freedom of thought, expression, and academy. We know that free thought is mandatory to ensure right to life, equality and peace”. (HK/TK)