In Turkey, university students’ right to education is being violated through arbitrary legal investigations and punishments. Over 800 investigations concerning nearly 50 students were carried out in Istanbul University in the second semester last year. Eleven of the overall 85 students under investigation were thrown out of their universities and twenty eight were were given a compulsory leave of absence for one to four semesters. There are investigations still going on in some other universities. We must support those students who are being denied their right to education and must hear their parents’ outcries.
In the universities, where the ground for free-speech is being totally destroyed, democratic activities like putting up posters, organizing festivals, protesting privatization or shouting slogans against the rector are punished through investigations. We believe that universities should be places where scientific and free thinking reign. We also believe that it is a social need that students are thinking, producing, criticizing persons, who fight for their rights.
We the people and organizations who have signed this declaration proclaim that we support the students’ freedom of thought and freedom of association and request that the investigations and punishments be annulled and the obstacles to the right to education be removed.
You can support the students by calling, faxing and e-mailing the numbers and addresses below, condemning the people and organizations who are responsible.
Highest Educational Association Presidency
Tel: +90 312 298 70 00
Fax: +90 312 266 51 53
President: Erdogan TEZIÇ
Tel: +90 312 266 47 25
Tel: +90 312 266 47 26
Fax: +90 312 266 51 53
Istanbul University
Tel : +90 212 440 00 00
Faks : +90 212 440 00 11
E-posta: iubilgiistanbul.edu.tr
Rector of the Yıldız Teknik University
Prof. Dr. Durul ÖREN
Tel: +90 212 261 20 02
Faks: +90 212 261 42 84
E-posta: oren@yildiz.edu.tr
Copy to: egitimhakkimiz@yahoo.com
devisci@devrimci.org
