The right to freedom of opinion and expression is in its darkest hour in Turkey. Hardly a day passes without it being violated. The already dismal record on media freedoms has worsened with the new measures to regulate the internet. Another new ruling for the country\u2019s scholars also raised concerns over limitations to academic freedoms in Turkey.<\/p>\n
A recent amendment by the the Council on Higher Education (Y\u00d6K) imposes disciplinary action on academics for speaking to the media on subjects other than their scientific fields.<\/p>\n
Whilst academic freedom and freedom of speech are not the same, they are closely intertwined.\u00a0Neither can exist without the other.<\/p>\n
Internationally-recognized principles of academic freedom include freedom to teach, to research and engage in intellectual debate without fear of institutional discipline or political pressure.<\/p>\n
Y\u00d6K\u2019s recent ruling not only curtails the broader civil liberties and human rights of college and university staff but it also undermine the core values of academic freedom.<\/p>\n
When academics, as members of a learned profession join the debate on matters of public interest, challenge opinions and put forward new ideas, the society as a whole benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreedom of speech is necessary for every one of us. Without it, we cannot talk about having academic freedom. As history shows us, academia can lead a society in furthering civil rights.\u00a0 In Turkey, too, guaranteeing academic freedoms may open the way for wider freedoms of speech and opinion<\/i>\u201d says Ilker Birbil of Sabanc\u0131 University and a columnist in daily Radikal.<\/p>\n
In Turkey, threats to academic freedom are not confined to civil liberties of individual scholars. \u00a0The institutional aspect of academic freedom is highly problematic, too.<\/p>\n
The representative organisation of universities in 47 European countries, The European University Association (EUA) rates institutional autonomy in Turkey as \u201clow\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Council on Higher Education (Y\u00d6K), established after the 1980 military coup, regulates\u00a0 almost all aspects of academic life.<\/p>\n
Dr. Gul Berna \u00d6zcan of Royal Holloway, University of London describes Y\u00d6K as a top-down imposition. \u201cIt is a system based on bureaucratic loyalty rather than free thinking. It is anti-democratic. It prevents research and development<\/i> \u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Ilker Birbil of Sabanci University also sees Y\u00d6K as a major part of the problem. \u201cUniversities, especially the state universities are directly controlled by the government. This is nothing new. It is the legacy of the 1980 military coup.\u00a0 This government had initially promised to abolish it. However, when they came to power, they started enjoying the power of control it has given them. Over the years, change of rectors and politically motivated appointments turned our universities into partisan institutions. Those academics in line with the government-thinking started giving away honorary degrees. They organised conferences on pseudo-scientific topics such as creationism. Inevitably, others that worried about the future of their academic careers started to resort to self-censorship<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Ilker Birbil, the latest amendment is \u201ca wide range of restrictions, thrown into a sack. It could be interpreted in many ways. What is obvious is that they do not want sympathy and support for another Gezi-type public demonstration<\/i>\u201d.<\/p>\n
Reprisal actions against university students and academics as a consequence of their support for the Gezi protests last summer included denial of scholarships for students and disciplinary action for faculty staff.<\/p>\n
Last October, similar intimidation tactics were used against one of Turkey\u2019s most prestigious academic institutions, Middle East Technical University (METU).\u00a0 A controversial and environmentally unsound highway construction project through the campus went ahead and the protests by students and faculty met high-handed, violent police action.<\/p>\n
Universities are both the critics and conscience of societies. They can only fulfill this role if they can be places where investigative research and independent thinking are nurtured.<\/p>\n
Clark Kerr was an American university reformer, known as the Henry Ford of higher education. A great intellect and an outspoken critic, Kerr served as UC Berkeley\u2019s first chancellor. In 1967, he was sacked by the then Republican governor of California, Ronald Reagan. Among others, Kerr is best remembered for these words: \u201cThe University is not engaged in making ideas safe for students. It is engaged in making students safe for ideas<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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