JINHA

NEWS CENTER – As a mass investigation targets over 1,000 academics who signed the statement “We will not be party to this crime,” condemning the Turkish state’s attacks on Kurdistan, women and feminist academics have denounced the attack.

Since 1,128 academics in Turkey signed a statement calling on the Turkish state to end the implementation of violent curfews and siege warfare on Kurdish cities, a veritable witch-hunt has begun. Dozens of academics have been arrested in police raids on their homes and offices, and at least 10 have been dismissed. Academics around the world have condemned the mass investigation against their colleagues in Turkey.

Dr. Nadje Al-Ali is a Professor of Gender Studies at SOAS, University of London. She noted that it has been difficult to watch the attacks on Kurdish populations. Nadje’s research has investigated the Kurdish women’s movement, which she said has recently made remarkable gains in gender equality in politics.

“Knowing how special and precious this development is, I have felt it is extremely painful and tragic to see how the Kurdish women's movement and the wider political movement is under attack as part of the Turkish state's ongoing onslaught against Kurds,” said Nadje. Impressed by Turkish academics’ stand against the attacks, Nadje also signed on in support of the petition.

Nadje grew up in Germany and has relatives in Iraq; she said the histories of both countries prove that an attack on academics indicates trouble in a country.

“The attack on academic freedom means that a regime is failing to convince its thinkers with rational arguments but needs to use coercive measures to maintain control,” said Nadje. “By violating academic freedom, and by intimidating, attacking and threatening academics at Turkish universities, the Turkish government is not only violating international law and its own constitution, but it is showing how weak it is.

“Only a weak and insecure state needs to resort to these repressive and punitive measures. A strong, confident and credible government could engage in dialogue and try to convince its population by engaging in policies and actions that reveal that it genuinely cares for the wellbeing of its population instead of its own grasp on power.”

Nadje noted that along with the painful tragedy has come an encouraging increasing awareness around the world of Turkey’s departure from democracy, particularly among the academics who have mobilized rapidly in support of their colleagues in the country.

“This is partly an expression of solidarity, partly an expression of protest against the Turkish government's attack on Kurds and its hypocrisy towards ISIS, but it is also because of the recognition that an attack on academics in one country is an attack against all of us,” said Nadje.

Dr. Valentine Moghadam, director of the International Affairs Program and Middle East Studies at Northeastern University, condemned the attack. She noted that the dismissal of two women academics within hours of the investigation beginning was particularly worrying for her as a woman in the academy.

“The violence inflicted by the Turkish state on Diyarbakır is outrageous enough, but Mr. Erdoğan’s provocative rhetoric and the dismissals of academics also undermine Turkey’s democracy, academic freedom, and the political rights of citizens,” said Valentine. “The world is watching Turkey.”

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