Declaration to the Peoples of Turkey and the world,

Support Us ?n Our Call!

Like many people in Turkey, we, as academics, were emboldened by the peace/solution process between the Turkish state and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) officially initiated in January 2013, hoping for a new era that would end the conflicts continuing for over 30 years in Turkey. We have repeatedly stated, especially in our works on Turkey’s history, economy and social relations, that the conflict has affected every aspect of Turkey, turned people into enemies, and increased inequality, discrimination and violence. We have been of the opinion that Turkey was finally going to have a chance to face its truths, democratize and heal its wounds.

We have supported every stage of the solution process between 2013 and 2015. We have stated that the creation of a Wise People’s Committee,[1] the Dolmabahçe Agreement[2] and that enactment of a new law by the Parliament regarding the solution process[3] were positive measures. However, the comparative studies we have undertaken on the ongoing peace processes across the world have shown us that these are not sufficient measures and that the process needs to be supported with various monitoring committees and, as in the case of Mandela, the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan,[4] one of the leading actors of the process, should be lifted. We have noted that the process should not be exploited for the purposes of foreign or domestic policies. We have also stated that deep-seated hostility against the Kurds in Turkey could only end by establishing a Truth Commission and by revealing the tragedies of the past as well as those who are responsible of them.[5]

At the current state of affairs, we regret to see that that the government did not make any arrangements to guarantee the stability of the peace process, and that there are no independent civil institutions to advise and evaluate the sides so that the public can be informed and transparency can be maintained. As of today, it is unfortunate for us to witness that the process is reduced to a tool regarding inter-party competition. The policies concerning Syria, Iraq and Iran have also created an environment where the war has resumed.

It is also unfortunate that despite the warnings of academics, NGOs, responsible politicians and reporters, no steps were taken to prevent the contagious civil war in the Middle East from affecting Turkey. On the contrary Turkey is being rapidly dragged to war.

Tens of peace processes across the world have shown us that the losses are much higher when people take up arms again and that the solution comes only if new democratic spheres are opened. In the last year, we have lost our students in Kobani and Suruç. Only in this past week, we have lost many other young people to the resumed conflict between the state and PKK.

It should be known well that we will never sacrifice our children, our students and none of our youngsters for war. For us, not a single disagreement is more important than their lives and the future they will build.

We invite all parties to a consolidated ceasefire immediately. We ask the government to abandon the language that cause discrimination, hostility and conflict; the responsible reporters to disclose their colleagues that provoke the war; and the parliament to pass laws that will guarantee the continuation of the peace process immediately.

The truth does not develop under conditions of war and today Turkey needs the truth before anything else.

We are declaring to the public: There is only one lesson that the young people can derive from our writings, statements, and lectures and it is that their lives matter and the country will not survive unless they are alive. The core message of the work we do will be that war budgets are compensated by our taxes and that it is the poor who lose their lives in a war. Our philosophy as academics is that nobody has the right to oppress and insult others. Nobody can prevent others from exercising their right to free speech. Our work is concerned with teaching young people to protect themselves from the poisonous feeling of revenge, continue to seek their rights, defend truth against lies and never be discouraged from democratic discourses and actions.

We, as 232 academics who’ve undersigned this statement, invite all academics, teachers, producers and consumers of knowledge, women and men to raise their voice and be a part of democracy and truth.

 

Signatures

Abdullah Sessiz, Prof, Dicle University

Ahmet Alt?nel, Assist Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Ahmet Hilal, Prof, Çukurova University

Ahmet Özdemir Aktan, Prof, Marmara University

Ahmet Uhri, Assist Prof, Dokuz Eylül University

Ali Akay, Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Ali ?hsan Ökten, Assoc Prof, Adana

Ali Kerem Saysel, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Alper Aç?k, Dr, Özye?in University

Asl? Aydemir, Instructor, ?stanbul University

Asl? Davas, Assoc Prof Ege University

Asl? Odman, Instructor, Mimar Sinan University

Asl? Takanay, ABD, Bo?aziçi University

Atilla Güney, Prof, Mersin University

Ayd?n Müftüo?lu, Assist Prof, Ege University

Ayfer Bartu Candan, Assoc Prof,  Bo?aziçi University

Ayla Z?rh Gürsoy, Prof, Marmara University

Ay?e Berkman, Prof, Marmara University

Ay?e Durakba?a, Prof, Marmara University

Ay?e Erzan, Prof, ?stanbul Teknik University

Ay?e Gözen, Prof, Ondokuz May?s University

Ay?e Öncü, Emeritus, Sabanc? University

Ay?egül Kanbak, Assist Prof, Batman University

Ay?en Canda?, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Ay?en Uysal, Prof, Dokuz Eylül University

Ayten Alkan, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Ayten Zara, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Bahar Oral, Res Assist, Çankaya University

Ba?ak Can, Assist Prof, Koç University

Bediz Y?lmaz, Assist Prof, Mersin University

Begüm Özden F?rat, Assist Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Berivan Gökçenay, Y?ld?z Teknik University

Betigül Öngen, Prof, ?stanbul University

Biray Kolluo?lu, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Biriz Berksony, Dr, ?stanbul University

Birol Caymaz, Assoc Prof, Galatasaray University

Buket Türkmen, Assoc Prof,  Galatasaray University

Burak Üzümkesici, Res Assist, ?stanbul University

Burcu Yakut-Çakar, Assoc Prof, Kocaeli University

Burhanettin Kaya, Assoc Prof, Gazi University

Bülent Bilmez, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Bülent Duru, Assoc Prof, Ankara University

Bülent Küçük, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Can Candan, Dr, Bo?aziçi University

Cem Özatalay, Assoc Prof, Galatasaray University

Cenap Özel, Prof, Dokuz Eylül University

Ceren Özselçuk, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Cesim Çelik, Assist Prof, Abant ?zzet Baysal University

Ceyda Arslan, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Chris Stepehnson, Instructor, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Cuma Çiçer, Assist Prof, Mardin Artuklu University

Ça??n Tanr?verdi, Ar. Gör, Trakya University

Ça?la Aykaç, Assist Prof, Fatih University

Çiler Çilingiro?lu, Assoc Prof, Ege University

Deniz Yonucu, Dr, LSE University

Derya Özkan, Dr, Münih University

Didem Dan??, Assoc Prof, Galatasaray University

Dilek Hattato?lu, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Düzgün Çak?rca, Assist Prof, Batman University

Elçin Aktoprak, Assist Prof, Ankara University

Ebru Aykut, Assist Prof. Dr, Mimar Sinan University

Elif Babül, Assist Prof, Mount Holyoke University

Elif Göcek, Assist Prof, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Emine Me?e, Prof, Dicle University

Emrah Dönmez, Instructor, I??k University

Engin Sustam, Assist Prof, Arel University

Erdem Yörük, Assist Prof, Koç University

Ergin Bulut, Assist Prof, Koç University

Erhan Kele?o?lu, Assist Prof, ?stanbul University

Ertan Y?lmaz, Prof, Akdeniz University

Erol Köro?lu, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Esra Mungan, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Fatih Altu?, Assist Prof, ?stanbul ?ehir University

Fatma Gök, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Ferhat Kentel, Prof, ?stanbul ?ehir University

Feride Aksu Tan?k, Prof, Ege University

Ferruh Akay, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Feryal Sayg?l?gil, Assist Prof, Arel Üniveristesi

Figen Binbay, Assist Prof, Dicle University

Figen I??k, Instructor, Orta Do?u Teknik University

Fikret Uyar, Dr, Dicle University

Funda Ba?aran, Prof, Ankara University

Funda ?enol Cantek, Prof, Ankara University

Galip Deniz Alt?nay, Mersin University

Gencay Gürsoy, Prof, ?stanbul University

Gökçe Topal, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Güçlü Ate?o?lu, Assist Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Gülhan Balsoy, Assist Prof, Okan University

Gülhan Türkay, Prof, ?stanbul University

Gülce Sorguç, Res Assist, Ege University

Gürcan Altan, Prof, Trakya University

Güven Gürkan Öztan, Assist Prof, ?stanbul University

1. P?nar ?eno?uz, Assist Prof, Gaziantep University

Hacer Ansal, Prof, I??k University

Hafize Öztürk Türkmen, Assist Prof, Akdeniz University

Hakan Gurvit, Prof, ?stanbul University

Haldun Sural, Prof, Orta Do?u Teknik University

Hale Bolak Prof, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Hejan Epözdemir, Dr, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Hilal Akekmekçi, Res. Assist, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Hüseyin A. ?ahin, Prof, Ondokuz May?s University

Ilg?n Erdem, Instructor, CUNY John Jay University

I??l Ünal, Prof, Ankara University

?clal Ay?e Küçükk?rca, Assist Prof, Mardin Artukulu University

?hsan Bilgin, ?stanbul Bilgi University

?lkay Özkürapli, Instructor, Arel University

?nan Ünal, Instructor, Tunceli University

?rfan Aç?kgöz, Prof, Dicle University

Kemal Bak?r, Prof, Gaziantep University

Kemal Özay, Assist Prof, Okan University

K?vanç Ersoy, Assoc Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Koray Çal??kan, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Kuban Alt?nel, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Kumru Toktam??, Assoc Prof, Pratt Institute

Kuvvet Lordo?lu, Prof, Kocaeli University

Levent Köker, Prof

Lütfiye Bozda?, Assist Prof, ?stanbul Kemerburgaz University

Mehmet Fatih Uslu, Assist Prof, ?stanbul ?ehir University

Mehmet Karaaslan, Prof, I??k University

Mehmet Rauf Kesici, Assist Prof, Kocaeli University

Mehmet Türkay, Prof, Marmara University

Mehmet Zencir, Prof, Pamukkale University

Melek Göregenli, Prof, Ege University

Melissa Bilal, Dr, Columbia University

Meltem Ah?ska, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Meltem Gürle, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Meral Camc?, Assist Prof, ?stanbul Yeni Yüzy?l University

Meral Özbek, Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Mine Gencel Bek, Prof, Ankara University

Murat Birdal, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Murat Germen, Sabanc? University

Murat Koyuncu, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Murat Öztürk, Assoc Prof, K?rklareli University

Murat Paker, Assist Prof, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Mustafa Alt?nta?, Prof, Gazi University

Mustafa Kalay, Prof, Mersin University

Mustafa Peköz, Dr.

Mustafa Polat, Dr, Yeditepe University

Mustafa Sercan, Prof, Abant ?zzet Baysal University

1. Gamze Toksoy, Assist Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Nazan Maksudyan, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul Kemerburgaz University

Nazan Üstünda?, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Nermin Biter, Dr, Ege University

Neslihan Önenli Mungan, Prof, Adana

Ne?e Y?ld?ran, Dr, I??k University

Nil Mutluer, Ni?anta?? University

Nora ?eni, Prof.

Nur Betül Çelik, Prof, Ankara University

Nurcan Özkaplan, Prof, I??k University

Nurettin Beltekin, Assist Prof, Mardin Artuklu University

Nuri Ersoy, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Nursel ?ahin, Prof, Akdeniz University

Nükhet Sirman, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Onur Hamzao?lu, Prof, Kocaeli University

Osman ?ahin, Instructor, Koç University

Ozan De?er, Res Assist, Ankara University

Öget Öktem Tanör, Prof, retired

Özen A?ut, Assoc Prof, retired

Özgün Akduran, Assist Prof, ?stanbul University

Özgür Müftüo?lu, Marmara University

Özgür Mutlu Ulus Karada?, Assist Prof, Ac?badem University

Özgür Soysal, Assist Prof, Ege University

Özlem Özkan, Assoc Prof, Kocaeli University

P?nar K?l?çer, Res Assist, Leiden University

P?nar Saip, Prof, ?stanbul University

Ramazan A?c?, Prof, Samsun

Ra?it Tükel, Prof, ?stanbul University

Rehber Akdo?an, Res. Assist, Dicle University

R?dvan ?e?en, Prof, Dicle University

Ruken Alp, Dr, Sabanc? University

Sami Cankat Tanr?verdi, Res Assist, ?stanbul University

Sarp Balc?, Instructor, Ankara University

Sava? Çoban, Dr.

Seçkin Özsoy, Assoc Prof, Ankara University

Seda Altu?, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Sefa Feza Arslan, Prof, Mimar Sinan University

Selçuk Ertekin Prof, Dicle University

Selim Temo, Assist Prof, Mardin Artukulu University

Sema Bayraktar, Assist Prof, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Sema Erder, Prof, Marmara University, retired

Semih Bilgen, Prof, Yeditepe University

Semra Somersan, Prof.

Senem Timuro?lu, Instructor, Özye?in University

Sevilay Çelenk, Assoc Prof, Ankara University

?ahika Yüksel, Prof, ?stanbul University

?emsa Özar, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

?ule Aytaç, Dr.

?ükrü Ekin Kocaba?, Assist Prof, Koç University

1. Elvan Altan, Prof, Ortado?u Teknik University

Taha Kahraman, Prof, Akdeniz University

Tahsin Ye?ildere, Prof, ?stanbul University

Tamer Demiralp, Prof, ?stanbul University

Taner Gören, Prof, ?stanbul University

Taner Özbenli, Prof, Ondokuz May?s University

Tansel Korkmaz, ?stanbul Bilgi University

Teoman Pamukçu, Prof, Ortado?u Teknik University

Tezcan Duma, Assoc Prof, Ankara University

Tuna Alt?nel, Assoc Prof, Claude Bernard Lyon-1 University

Tu?rul Atasoy, Prof, Bülent Ecevit University

Tülin Özdemir Johansson, Assoc Prof,  Lassel Üniveristesi

Tülin Ural, Dr, Mimar Sinan University

U?ur Kara, Assist Prof, Anadolu University

Ula? Bayraktar, Dr.

Umut ?ah, Instructor, ?stanbul Arel University

Ülkü Do?anay, Prof, Ankara University

Ülkü Güney, Assist Prof, Abant ?zzet Baysal University

Vangelis Kechriotis, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Veli Deniz, Prof. Kocaeli University

Veli Polat, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Vildan ?yigüngör, Assoc Prof, Marmara University

Yahya Madra, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Yasemin Özgün, Assoc Prof, Anadolu University

Yasin Ceylan, Prof, Ortado?u Teknik University

Ye?im Edis ?ahin, Prof, Dokuz Eylül University

Y?ld?ray Ozan, Prof, Ortado?u Teknik University

Y?ld?z Silier, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Y?lmaz Özdil, Assist Prof, Mardin Artuklu University

Yonca Hürol, Prof, Do?u Akdeniz University

Yusuf Çiftçi, Instructor, Mardin Artukulu University

Yücel Demirer, Assoc Prof, Kocaeli University

1. Umut Türem, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Zafer Ercan, Prof, Abant ?zzet Baysal University

Zafer Yenal, Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Zeki K?l?çarslan, Prof, ?stanbul University

Zelal Ekinci, Prof, Kocaeli University

Zergün Utku Alt?nta?, Dr, Gazi University

Zerrin ?ren Boynudelik, Dr, ?stanbul Teknik University

Zeynep Gambetti, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Zeynep Kadirbeyo?lu, Assist Prof, Bo?aziçi University

Zerrin Kurto?lu ?ahin, Prof, Ege University

Zeynep K?v?lc?m, Assoc Prof, ?stanbul University

Zeynep Uysal, Assoc Prof, Bo?aziçi University

 

For information contact:barisakademisyen@gmail.com

 

[1] Wise People’s Committee (Akil ?nsanlar Heyeti), which was composed of 63 members, was constituted on April 4, 2013 to explain the process to people and to report their expectations from peace.

[2] Dolmabahçe Agreement was declared on February 28th, 2015 by members of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) and People’s Democracy Party (PDP) as the framework for peace negotiations. However, after the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an declared his disapproval of the agreement, it was disowned by JDP.

[3] On July 15th, 2015, the Law on ending terror and strengthening of social cohesion was passed that gave legal framework to peace negotiations.

[4] Abdullah Öcalan is the leader of PKK and remains in prison since 1999.

[5] Throughout the 1990s when the war between the Turkish state and the PKK was at its peak a number of human rights violations has been committed by the state against Kurds including disappearance, extra judicial murders, displacement, rape and harassment. To this day no one has been prosecuted for these crimes although confessions of former officials who committed these crimes are abound. During 2000s, Kurds living or working in cities of Turkey have been victims of numerous hate crimes.

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