300 int'l academics, filmmakers sign letter supporting dismissed Boğaziçi faculty member Can Candan

Duvar English 

Approximately a group of 300 academics and filmmakers have signed an open letter addressing Boğaziçi University Rectorate, Boğaziçi University Senate and the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK).

The letter expressed support for Can Candan who has been recently dismissed by the acting rector of Boğaziçi University. 

"Internationally renowned documentary filmmaker Can Candan has been summarily and unfairly dismissed by the new acting rector of Boğaziçi University. For many years, Candan has been a vocal advocate for academic freedom in Turkey and has been actively documenting the student and faculty resistance to the government-imposed politically appointed rector of the university," their joint statement said. 

The academics said that they stand with the Boğaziçi University community in their struggle for academic freedom and autonomy. 

Prominent academic and documentary filmmaker Candan was outspoken during the months-long protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rector appointment to Turkey's most prestigious higher education institution. 

On July 15, Candan was dismissed from Boğaziçi University by acting rector Naci İnci, who assumed the post after the removal of Melih Bulu by Erdoğan.

"The international community of academics, filmmakers, artists and cultural arts workers stand in solidarity with Can Candan and denounce this overtly hostile gesture to remove this valued member of the academic and filmmaking community from his post," the academics said in their letter in support of Candan.

"Further, we stand in support of the students and faculty at Boğaziçi University who continue to valiantly resist the imposition of inappropriate governance at their university as they fight for academic freedom both for their own institution and in Turkey more broadly."