The
relationship between academia and the government has never been more than
lukewarm in Turkey. Academic freedom drastically deteriorated
in the post-1980 military coup period. However, this oppression has gained a
new dimension with the islamist/conservative Justice and Development Party
(AKP) government that has been ruling the country for more than 13 years. In
recent months, academics have faced accusations of “terror propaganda” after
signing a peace petition that criticized military actions in the heavily
Kurdish populated southeastern part of Turkey. The petition titled “We will not
be a party to this crime” was signed by more than 1000 academics from 90 Turkish
universities as well as foreign intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky and Judith
Butler. It was alleged that the academics were part of a “fifth column” and
they were charged with “terrorist propaganda.” Some have been detained and most
were dismissed from their universities.
In this workshop, our aim is to
explore tangible solutions for the colleagues who have lost their job. We will
be addressing the following questions: What can German universities do? In more
concrete terms, what can the University of Kassel do? What should be the role
of trade unions, their confederations, and the foundations? What are the
options available given the high number of “refugee academics”? The workshop
will host relevant stakeholders, including trade unions, foundations, academics
from Turkey and Germany, as well as university administrative staff. We’ll
endeavour to go beyond a simple exchange and build concrete bridges of
solidarity.
The evening event will focus on
testimonials of our turkish colleagues on the current situation in Turkey and
their strategies and struggles for building networks of alternative political
university education.
Programme:
Wednesday June 7
2
– 5 pm – Workshop
Putting solidarity into practice!
Building strategies to support persecuted academics.
The workshop will be held in English.
Exchange of stragtegies in order to build international (trade union)
solidarity in political conflicts and aiming at moving from a symbolic level to
concrete action.
Where? Raum 0105/0106 im ASL 1,
Universitätsplatz 9
6
– 8 pm – Panel Discussion
Occupational bans and alternative
strategies for political university education in Turkey: Testimonials of
turkish colleagues
This event will be held in English,
translation to German will be provided.
Welcome address: Andreas Keller,
Vice-President of ETUCE/Education International and Vice-Chair of Education and
Science Workers' Union (GEW); General Students' Committee (AStA)
Panel discussion with
Dr. Latife Akyüz (Goethe University
Frankfurt/Academics for Peace)
Dr. Mehmet Ruhi Demiray (University
of Siegen/ Kocaeli Academy for Solidarity)
Dr. Mehmet Rauf Kesici (University of
Duisburg-Essen/Kocaeli Academy for Solidarity)
Where? Hörsaal 3, Campus Center,
Moritzstr. 18, Kassel
Hosted
by:
Regionalverband Hochschule und Forschung der GEW Nordhessen
Supported
by:
AStA Uni Kassel; AG Berufsverbote Kassel der GEW Hessen; DGB Jugend Nordhessen;
Infobrief Türkei; Initiative zur Solidarität mit den türkischen
Akademiker*innen Kassel; International Center for Development and Decent Work
at the University of Kassel (ICDD)