Court cancels decision to not investigate ODTÜ rector over cutting thousands of trees

Duvar English 

An Ankara court has ruled against a decision made by the Counsel of Higher Education (YÖK) to not investigate Middle East Technical University's (ODTÜ) rector Verşan Kök for ordering thousands of trees to be cut overnight on campus land. 

The Ankara Chamber of Architects applied to YÖK in 2017 for Kök to be investigated over the incident, in which the trees were cut overnight, but the board rejected the request. 

“Hundreds of construction vehicles and trucks, accompanied by riot police, laid waste to ODTÜ, our ecological integrity, our city and our lives. As the Ankara branch of the Chamber of Architects, we applied to YÖK for the investigation of ÖDTÜ's rector Verşan Kök, for turning a blind eye to the massacre of trees and for malfeasance of duty. YÖK decided to not proceed forward with action regarding Kök. We brought this decision to court,” said Ankara Chamber of Architects head Tezcan Karakuş Candan 

“We will also demand that those responsible for the massacre of trees in Kavaklık and the cruel police intervention against students protesting the construction of dormitories that tore the green space and ODTÜ's traditions to pieces pay the price. The rector, who based on his attitude will clearly continue to inflict irreparable harm against ODTÜ must be immediately removed from the university and his administrative authority must be revoked,” Candan added, saying that they would not let the matter go until Kök and former Ankara mayor Melih Gökçek be punished for their roles in the affair.