Support for Arrested Academics From All Over World

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Academics Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy will have their first hearing today (April 22).

Ahead of the hearing today at 2 p.m. a press statement and solidarity messages have been read.

The statement has been read out by 12 academics, one sentence each.

Declaration from academics for peace

In the declaration it has been noted that both academics as well as journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül being tried was “beyond comprehension, against reason, and law” and a solidarity message has been sent. Dündar and Gül have participated while the statement was being made.

“These two cases are a part of the attack against freedom of expression targeting entire society”.

Academics for peace have demanded that their colleagues be released.

“We reiterate that living together in peace was the most fundamental human right, thus the demand for peace could not be judged, giving voice to this demand was not a crime and should not be made look like one. We call for putting an end to the unlawful practice immediately and releasing our colleagues”.

During the statement, also Prof. Aude Merlin has held a speech on behalf of the Free University of Brussels (Üniversite Libre de Bruxelles).

In the statement, solidarity messages from following academics across the world  who criticize the state restricting the academics’ freedom of expression and punishing them for demanding peace has been read out:

Etienne Balibar, Immanuel Wallerstein, Michel Wieviorka, Judith Butler, Rosi Braidotti, Noam Chomsky, Alex Demirovic, Bob Jessop, Ngai-Ling Sum, Michael Burawoy, Loïc Wacquant, Alain Touraine, Cynthia Enloe, Catherine Lutz, Nadje Al-Ali  

(BK/AS/DG)

* Photographs: Mahmut Çınar