2 academics suspended at METU

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Middle East Technical University (METU/ODTÜ) Rectorate suspended two research assistants Sibel Bekiroğlu of the Sociology Department and Mehmet Mutlu of the Political science and public administration.

The two academics were also members of the Education and Science Laborers' Union (Eğitim-Sen). Eğitim-Sen Ankara Branch No. 5, of which Bekiroğlu and Mutlu are members issued a press statement condemning the rectorate's decision.

The statement emphasized the oppressive policies of the university administration and the government appointed rector Verşan Kök.

"The trustee rectorate, which had repeatedly targeted METU workers and students previously, has now dismissed our members and former representatives, Sibel Bekiroğlu and Mehmet Mutlu, without specifying the reason."

"The ones who are being supported by the government are the cause of this unlawfulness. We will not leave our members and METU workers alone in the face of this unlawfulness."

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METU Sociology Society also said on its Twitter account, "We stand by our professors against this unlawfulness and oppression, and we will not leave them alone."

ODTÜ Sosyoloji ve Siyaset Bilimi'nden hocalarımız Sibel Bekiroğlu ve Mehmet Mutlu, kayyum rektör tarafından keyfi biçimde açığa alınmıştır!
Bu hukuksuzluk ve baskılara karşı hocalarımızın yanındayız ve yalnız bırakmayacağız! pic.twitter.com/hVPmPo3v0h

— ODTÜ Sosyoloji Topluluğu (@METUSoc) June 15, 2022

Bekiroğlu and Mutlu were detained during house raids against members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) in September 2021.(RT/TB)