Ankara The appointment of a political figure with ties to the ruling party of Turkey as rector of a prominent Istanbul university has sparked protests and expressed concern about the deepening of political intervention in higher education.
The whole picture: Turkey ranks 135th out of 144 countries on the Academic Freedom Index, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was given the power to appoint university staff by decision in 2016. It was one of many steps taken to strengthen its power following a failed coup.
- Erdoğan used the power last month to appoint Melih Bulu as rector of Bogazici University, known as the Turkish Harvard.
- The prestigious public university was founded in 1863 as Robert College and was the first American institution of higher education abroad.
Send the news: The appointment led to peaceful protests from students and faculty members who demanded that Bulu resign and that the university be allowed to elect its own rector.
- Turkish police raided. More than 600 students have been detained since February 1 and at least ten are still being arrested.
- In recent days, peaceful demonstrations in solidarity have spread throughout the country.
The state of affairs: As the protests continue, Bulu is trying to establish his control over the management of the university by appointing two vice-chancellors.
- In a surprise move on Friday, Erdoğan bypassed the Higher Education Council to open two new faculties at the university – law and communications.
- Critics refer to it as a “Trojan horse” that enables Erdogan to appoint additional academic staff. The existing staff refused to cooperate with Bulu.
What they say: The Turkish government claims that the protesters are ‘extremists’ who violate a ban on public gatherings due to COVID-19. Erdogan and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu both call them ‘terrorists’.
- Soylu even tweeted that the protesters were “LGBT perverts.” His tweet was quickly censored by Twitter.
- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned Price condemned the anti-LGBT comments by Turkish officials, expressed concern over the broader response to the protests and said the Biden government would not remain silent on issues of fundamental democratic freedoms. .
- In a call last week with Erdogan’s top adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the government in Biden would make a “broad commitment to supporting democratic institutions and the rule of law” in Turkey. shows, according to the White House reading.
What’s next: Decisions on the possible prosecution of the students detained will be made according to the legal procedures within two months. The protests are expected to continue, and academics read a statement with their backs to the rector’s building every day.