Watch In Front of Prison for Arrested Academics

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 Boğaziçi University Students and academics of the Boğaziçi University and Academics for Peace Initiative are on watch in front of the prison where the three academics are imprisoned for signing the peace declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”.

The Justice Watch started today (March 23) in front of Bakırköy Prison where Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan is being kept under arrest.

Academics for Peace Initiative has also initiated a watch today which will continue in front of the Metris prison where Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ersoy are being kept.

The watch is kept between 12 a.m. and 3 p.m.

What had happened?

The four academics;  Associate Prof. Kıvanç Ersoy (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Univ., mathematics), Assistant Prof. Esra Mungan (Boğaziçi Univ., psychology), Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya (fired as a consequence of the academics' statement from Nişantaşı University, history) and Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı (fired from İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University Department of Translation and Interpreting after signing the peace declaration) had held a press conference on March 10 reading the statement on behalf of Academics for Peace/İstanbul group reiterating their peace demand.

A custody order signed by Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor İrfan Fidan accusing the academics of “propagandizing for the terrorist organization” has been issued following police raid which was conducted on the houses of the academics on March 14 but the academics were not at home. The academics except Meral Camcı who had been abroad have gone to İstanbul Security Directorate together with their lawyers.

The three academics were waited at the police department without standing before prosecution. Following their interrogation on March 15 at the prosecution they have been referred to court for arrest.

5th Criminal Court of Justice has decided for the arrest of the three academics on charges of propagandizing for the terrorist organization through signing the peace declaration of “We will not be a party to this crime”. (BK/DG)

* Photograph: Academics for Peace