Open Letter Condemning the Purge of Academic Institutions in Turkey

The Turkish state is running amok and prejudicing its international reputation further with steps quite out of step with those of a truly democratic state.

Lecturer in Music, University of York

Professor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Boston

Researcher in European Cinema, University of York, UK In solidarity with colleagues in Turkey and in the defense of academic freedom

As an academic, I strongly oppose the crackdown on academics and academic freedom in Turkey.

Like many, I was appalled at the attempted military coup and i am pleased it failed. However, the coup must not be used as a cover for tyrannical measures against academics and teachers.

Professor of Ethics of Institutions, Utrecht University, the Netherlands

​Ahmed Ferhadi, PhD Professor of Middle East Studies New York University, USA

Associate Professor Anthropology University of Illinois

What do they fear? They must be concerned with restraining their intellects rather than their bodies. They missed the point. The just need to ban ink and the internet for this to work. Ridiculous.

In solidarity with our colleagues in Turkey and in the defense of academic freedom,

Political purges of the academy lead Turkey dangerously down the path of authoritarian rule and away from its own democratic principles. This is a shame for all the world to see, and makes it very difficult for ordinary, peace-loving academics all over the world to collaborate with Turkish academics. This damages Turkey in innumerable ways.

Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Biology, University of Alberta

As a student, I am just driven by my conscience to sign.

Prof. Dr. University of Hamburg Germany

SOAS University of London

Associate Professor, School of the Arts, Columbia University

Senior lecturer, King's College London

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Duquesne University