Academics of Boğaziçi University: Release our students

* Video: Can Candan; ** Photo: Boğaziçi Solidarity

Click to read the article in Turkish

Both the students and academics of Boğaziçi, one of the most prestigious universities of Turkey, are still protesting the appointment of Melih Bulu as the new university president by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 2.

Since January 5, the faculty members have been protesting the appointed rector by turning their backs to his office at the South Campus.

In today's protest of "We don't accept, we don't give up", academics have demanded the release of their two students who have been arrested and two students who have been placed under house arrest over a picture that was put on display as part of an outdoor exhibition at the campus.

CLICK - Two Boğaziçi University students arrested

'Our climate of tolerance undermined'

Referring to the latest developments since January 29, the academics have underlined that what has been happening since then has shown "the grave consequences of appointing a rector to Boğaziçi without consulting the university," stressing the damage of this appointment on the institutional structure and mechanism of the university.

The academics have also raised concerns that "the climate of discussion, tolerance and understanding that has been prevalent in the university for years is being undermined with the related intervention."

"As a result of this, a problem that can be solved by the university with methods considerate of different sensitivities and within its own body has culminated in the polarization of our students and their exposure to grave threats," the academics have underlined further.

Call for commonsense

Further in the statement, they have said, "We are concerned that this rector appointment with a wrong process will damage our university further. We call on all related parties, the public, our students and other university constituents to have commonsense and understanding and avoid exclusionary acts and words so that this tense environment can calm down."

"We demand that our students who are arrested and held in house arrest with handcuffs be released immediately and that the police presence that hinders the possibilities of consensus at our campuses come to an end," the academics have indicated further.

2021-02-01, Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Akademisyenleri Nöbeti ve Açıklaması

Kaynak göstererek kullanmak serbesttir. https://t.co/UdBIub3G8Hhttps://t.co/4vQRR4BQfrhttps://t.co/z7PNAxkINq

— Can Candan (@yunusunbabasi) February 1, 2021

CLICK - Police attack students with pepper gas at Boğaziçi

(DŞ/SD)