Ankara – The appointment of a political figure with ties to Turkey’s ruling party as rector of a leading university in Istanbul has sparked protests and raised concerns about deepening political intervention in higher education.
The big picture: Turkey ranks 135th out of 144 countries on the Academic Freedom Index, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was empowered to appoint university staff by decree in 2016. That was one of the many steps it took to bolster its power after a failed coup d’état.
- Erdoğan used that power last month to appoint Melih Bulu as rector of Bogazici University, known as Harvard in Turkey.
- Founded in 1863 as Robert College, the prestigious public university was the first American institution of higher education abroad.
Driving the news: The appointment sparked peaceful protests from students and faculty members calling for Bulu to resign and for the university to elect its own rector.
- Turkish police intervened. More than 600 students have been detained since February 1 and at least ten are still being arrested.
- In recent days, peaceful protests have spread in solidarity across the country.
The state of affairs: As the protests continue, Bulu tries to establish control over the administration of the university by appointing two vice rectors.
- In a surprise move on Friday, Erdoğan bypassed the Higher Education Council to open two new faculties at the university – law and communication.
- Critics call this a “Trojan horse” movement that allows Erdoğan to hire additional academic staff. The existing staff had refused to cooperate with Bulu.
What they say: The Turkish government claims that the protesters are “extremists” violating a ban on public gatherings over COVID-19. Erdoğan and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu both called them “terrorists.”
- Soylu even tweeted that the protesters were “LGBT perverts.” His tweet was quickly censored by Twitter.
- State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the anti-LGBT comments from Turkish officials, expressed concern about the broader response to the protests, and said the Biden government would not remain silent on issues pertaining to basic democratic freedoms.
- Speaking last week with Erdogan’s top adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration would show a “broad commitment to supporting democratic institutions and the rule of law” in Turkey, the White House said.
What’s next: According to legal procedures, a decision will be taken within two months on the possible prosecution of the detained students. The protests are expected to continue, with academics reading out a statement every day with their backs to the rectoral building.