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Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po Paris) has cancelled the conference “Refugee Question in Europe and Turkey’s Role” planned to be held together with İstanbul Aydın University has been cancelled due to the oppression and rights violations the academics have been exposed to.
Private Universities Communication and Solidarity Network (VİDA) has announced that the decision of canceling the conference was taken as a result of the campaign of “Support Academics for Peace at Istanbul Aydın University” on February 8, 2016.
“Suspend all Erasmus arrangements” campaign
İstanbul Aydın University had dismissed Assoc. Prof. Dr. Battal Odabaşı, an academic member of Education Faculty Psychological Counselling and Guidance Department who had signed the peace declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”.
VİDA has sent letters to other European universities which had academic arrangements with İstanbul Aydın University and has urged the universities to “suspend their arrangements and other protocols with İstanbul Aydın University until Prof. Battal Odabaşı goes back to his work and the racist groups are suspended from school”.
Board of Overseers Chair: Alleged excuse is of a medieval kind of mindset
İstanbul Aydın University Board of Overseers Chair Dr. Mustafa Aydın has made a statement on the matter. According to the report on Milliyet daily Mustafa Aydın has noted; “The excuse they give [for cancelling the conference] is literally of a medieval kind of mindset”. (BK/DG)
