Will academics from France be deported by Turkey?

Joint declaration by academics

Working in Galatasaray University, the academics from Turkey and France released a joint declaration today (February 23). The declaration briefly reads:

"Language tests imposed on GSÜ staff from France must be abandoned.

"We, the academics from Turkey and France, united and working hand in hand for a quarter of a century, are involved in the Galatasaray project, symbol of Franco-Turkish friendship consecrated at the highest level by a bilateral agreement signed by the two governments in 1992. Since then, we have been committed to providing our students with a multicultural and bilingual education. However, their right to this education seems to be hampered by the latest measures put in place by the authorities.

"Our working conditions have been significantly degraded by the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the health crisis, there has been a new crisis known as "ikamet" (residence permit in Turkey, accompanied by a work permit).

"Indeed, at the end of the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, the academics of France at GSÜ were informally notified of a new condition for their stay in Turkey:

"Obtaining a B2 level in Turkish.

"This condition was not notified to them while their residence permits were being renewed. In fact, most of them have not received new residence permits since September 15. The difficulties just mentioned are not without consequences on the professional and daily life of the people concerned:

"The impossibility of teaching on campus, the impossibility of finding independent accommodation under a legal contract, of signing a contract with a telephone operator or an Internet provider, to update their public transport card with regard to the new health provisions, but, above all else, the impossibility of leaving Turkey (which means not being able to see their family and relatives, not being able to attend conferences or seminars abroad and not being able to continue research under good conditions).

"These challenges faced by academics have a direct impact on the academic program and hamper the academic life of our students, not to mention their future.

Therefore,

• We regret the abrupt change in the evaluation criteria for the academics from France, from academic to linguistic, and we wonder which legal document it is based on, if not on the concept of reciprocity invoked, omitting the fact that there exists an EILE agreement signed by the two governments on July 31, 2020. This agreement regulates the working conditions of foreign national teachers in the secondary institutions in France.

• Furthermore, with regard to the new conditions required of teachers from France at Galatasaray University, we would like to point out that the qualification required in Turkish (B2) poses a problem: This level, which is very high in itself, is not necessary as our classes must be given in French, and will have a dissuasive effect on those who plan to come and teach in Turkey in the future, or on those who only come for a limited period.

• The consequence would be a drop in the general level of French-speaking education within our establishment, the only French-speaking university in Turkey.

So,

• We call for the resumption of negotiations between the Council for Higher Education (YÖK) and the diplomatic authorities of France with a view to finding a favorable outcome for all parties concerned.

• We demand the immediate abandonment of the decision requiring a certain Turkish language level to issue a residence permit.

• We are asking for residence permits (ikamet), which legalize the situation of academics from France in Turkey and allow them to carry out their assignments with students.

Finally, we, as academics from Turkey and France standing in solidarity, would like to remind you that:

• The right to education, which is a fundamental right, is threatened; and even if it is a matter of reciprocity, it does not apply to fundamental rights and freedoms.

• Galatasaray, an institution with an educational tradition dating back several centuries, continues to symbolize the historic friendship between the people of Turkey and France.

• No academic and cultural institution should be weakened by political tensions; on the contrary, they should be seen as instruments of peace and friendship, something we have always aspired to and still aspire to.