Diploma investigation: Statement from Istanbul University academics regarding İmamoğlu!

The Istanbul University Democratic University Initiative and the Association of University Faculty Members have reacted to the letters sent by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to the Istanbul University Rectorate, which requested an examination of allegations of irregularities concerning the lateral transfer process of IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

In the statement, it was stated, "In the past, we opposed all anti-democratic practices in universities, including the headscarf ban. Today, we similarly oppose the mentality that turns Istanbul University into a tool of the political power in this conflict taking place over the diploma of a political actor."

''UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT TOOLS TO BE USED BY POLITICS''

The statement included the following remarks:

''As followed in the media, the pressure of the current political power on university employees in Turkey has reached a new stage. In this stage, which is qualitatively different, universities are being turned into tools for the continuation of political power in addition to the political and ideological pressures they have experienced for years.

CALL TO IU ADMINISTRATION

As the Istanbul University Democratic University Initiative and the Association of University Faculty Members (ÜNİVDER), we call on the Istanbul University administration to act impartially, not to bow to pressure, and to make decisions that are objective, data-based, and the product of independent evaluation in order to protect the honor of the university as a scientific institution.

Because governments may change, but universities must maintain their democratic, free, and autonomous institutional structures under all circumstances.

For this reason, we are not against the free practice of politics in universities, but against governments turning the university into a tool for their own purposes.

In the past, we opposed all anti-democratic practices in universities, including the headscarf ban. Today, we similarly oppose the mentality that turns Istanbul University into a tool of the political power in this conflict taking place over the diploma of a political actor.

In this context, we object to the pressure being placed on the I.U. Rectorate/Administration to provide evidence for the claims of the judicial authority in an investigation opened with the allegation of a lateral transfer irregularity, and to the attempt to clearly make the university a party in favor of the political power in the judicial process.

''RESIGNATION HAS ONCE AGAIN REVEALED''

At the same time, the administrative and political pressure established by the Rectorate on those who object to it taking a stance in line with the expectations of the political power has been revealed once again with the resignation of the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration. We also do not accept the pressure that the university administration has created on university components and senate members.

We, as the Istanbul University Democratic University Initiative and the Association of University Faculty Members (ÜNİVDER), declare that we will fight with determination to realize our demand for a democratic university.

Long live a democratic, free, and autonomous university!!!!''