27 relatives employed at İzmir university amid academic freedom crisis

A shocking 27 members of İzmir's Katip Çelebi University's administration were reported to be relatives, as the country remains in crisis about the president's appointment of a party member as rector of Boğaziçi University.

Thursday February 25 2021 12:14 pm

Police throws gas canisters at an İzmir protest in support of the Boğaziçi community's resistance against Erdoğan's rector.

Duvar English

A mass nepotism scheme in İzmir's Katip Çelebi University employed 27 relatives in the administration, including the rectorial office, as the country nears its second month of protests over the president's appointment of a politician as rector of Boğaziçi University.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's appointment of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) member Melih Bulu as Boğaziçi rector on Jan. 1 prompted global outrage as the move was interpreted as a blatant interruption of academic freedom.

"It was detected that 16 higher staff members were appointed without examinations; and 27 people among the rector, associate rector, dean and teaching staff have been revealed to be related," said an official statement from Katip Çelebi University Rector Prof. Saffet Köse.

The rector was responding to a parliamentary question by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Mahir Polat, who said that the state's sanctioning of nepotism was in conflict with their Muslim rhetoric.

"Thousands of citizens are breaking a sweat in exam rooms while these people obtain those posts without examination," Polat said.

Nepotism among the AKP's close circles has infiltrated all venues including the judiciary, government bidding, and state offices.