Pressures, Arrests Against Academics Brought to Parliament

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HDP Group Deputy Chairperson and Diyarbakır MP, Çağlar Demirel has asked for an Assembly Commission to be set up to investigate into discharges, suspension, investigations, detentions and arrests of academics who signed the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime”.

Demirel added that universities have to be enabled to fulfill their missions of creating free thought, quelling deepening worries of public about this matter, and ensuring basic rights and freedom of expression of academics by setting up this commission.

“What is the legal justification of arrest of the academics?”

Demirel has submitted a summary of proceedings as to Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya to be responded by Minister of Justice, Bekir Bozdağ.

The Ministry of Justice asked to reply the following questions:

- What is the legal justification of arrest of the three academics?

- It is known that the three academics going to testify on their own will have been arrested over suspicion of their escape. What is the legal legislation that forms basis to this decision?

- What is this ministry’s opinion on this matter?

- What is the reason of transferring Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy to Silivri High Security Prison? Is there a legal basis to practices like naked body search, isolation, visiting prohibition, seizing books? Has the ministry take step to have these practices removed?

- What is the basic reason to hold the three academics separate from the other signees?

What had happened?

Administrative investigation has been launched into over 500 academics following the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime” signed by 1,128 academics. 38 academics have been laid off on various allegations, 33 academics have been detained by house raid, six academics have been forced to resign and administrative investigation has been launched into 158 academics. (ÇT/TK)