Turkish court cancels dismissal of Boğaziçi University academic Can Candan

Duvar English

An Istanbul court gave a decision of stay of execution for the dismissal of academic and documentary filmmaker Can Candan from Boğaziçi University.

Candan was dismissed by the current rector Prof. Naci İnci in July 2021, when İnci was serving as the acting rector. 

Candan then took the dismissal decision to the judiciary in August. The Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court refused the demand for the stay of execution for the second time on Jan. 20, 2022. 

Upon Candan's appeal, the Istanbul 7th Administrative Court on Feb. 16, 2022 ruled for the stay of execution of the dismissal decision. 

“On the 227th day of my unjustly and unlawfully dismissal from Boğaziçi University with baseless allegations, where I served for 14 years, I received the news of the court's decision to halt the execution [of the dismissal]!" Candan tweeted on March 3.

"The lawsuit for reinstatement continues. This interim decision was given by the regional administrative court, which overturned the first court's refusal for the second time. This decision will not change until the main decision is made. So, until the main decision is made, I return to my duty.” 

Candan had been outspoken during the months-long protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's appointment of Melih Bulu as the rector of Boğaziçi University in January 2021. Bulu was removed from his duty by Erdoğan in July 2021 and was instead replaced by Naci İnci.

After İnci assumed the post, he dismissed Candan from the university.

Other academics at Boğaziçi University have been similarly targeted for their roles in the protests. Classes planned by Özcan Vardar, Feyzi Erçin, and Seda Binbaşgil, Noémi Levy-Aksu  who all were vocal against Melih Bulu and later Naci İnci, have been canceled by the rectorate.