Academic Camcı Custody Order Issued Returns to Turkey

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Academic Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı who was abroad when custody order has been issued on her along with the three academics is returning to Turkey today (March 30).

Academics for Peace has shared Camcı’s message. “I will stand behind my peace call, continue the fight”, said Camcı.

Camcı in her interview with bianet on February 26 after being expelled for signing the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime” had said, “Children were dying. Not signing it was not an option for me. There was not a moment which I considered signing it or not”.

"I didn't have the tendency to extend my stay"

Academics for Peace has posted Meral Camcı’s letter on its Facebook page.

Camcı said, “I am returning from a visit performed to return, not to stay”.

Camcı’s letter is briefly as follows:

“After the press statement I had gone to Paris to visit my kid who has already been studying there for four years. On the third day of my visit, they came to my house with detention and custody order. I have lived with a heavy heart of first the custody then the arrest processes even though I wasn’t there physically, yet there mentally and spiritually. I didn't have the tendency to extend my stay from the beginning.

“I got my ticket my dear fellows. I will come to Yeşilköy Airport on March 30, Wednesday at 2:20 p.m.”.

“I haven’t given up hope on this country”

“My return is indeed a hearty and willful decision. From my point of view, it was a must. Just like signature I put, the press statement I read; it is as clear as my faith in democratic country without ‘but’s in which can be lived equally, differently and peacefully.

“Despite everything, I haven’t given up hope on this country, we have desired peace, we will stand behind it no matter what. We will expose the universities in which right violations take place, transform university, and this country...I have duty of loyalty for youth, children of this country and for my students whom were kept away from me”.

“I will stand behind my call for peace”

“Our heart burden is common my friends…As we said in a correspondence with a friend, it doesn’t matter at which end you stand of a wall unless your mind becomes free. We will remove those walls and become free.

“I will stand behind my peace call. This is the only for me to be a human as of last June, and also the only way for me to continue scientific research, study, and production”.

Three academics arrested

Meral Camcı is among the signees of the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime”. She has been academic for 14 years. She was working at Yeni Yüzyıl University, Department of Translation and Interpreting. She was expelled on February 24 after signing the declaration.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan read the declaration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya on behalf of Academics for Peace İstanbul group on March 10.

They expressed that prosecution has launched investigations without determining on which accusations will be based, and reiterated their peace call.

Police raided home following custody order on March 14. Three academics went to the police station on their own will. Camcı was abroad at the time. They were arrested on charge of “terrorism propaganda” on March 15.

(BK/TK)