Bielefeld University protests against the treatment of academics in Turkey

Bielefeld University is most highly concerned about current developments in Turkish universities. The Rektorat of Bielefeld University supports the statement by Professor Dr. Horst Hippler, the president of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), and emphatically assures it solidarity with all affected academics.

‘No restrictions may be imposed on academic freedom. Free research and teaching are a fundamental pillar of democracy,’ emphasizes Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer, the Rektor of Bielefeld University. It is not to be tolerated when the directors and deans of all universities in Turkey are being forced to resign, when academics are no longer allowed to leave the country, and numerous academics have been imprisoned.

For many years, Bielefeld University has cultivated an academic exchange with Turkish universities. Currently, seven Turkish academics are working at Bielefeld University and 343 Turkish students are enrolled here. There are regular student exchanges with ten Turkish universities through Erasmus. In addition, Bielefeld University participated in establishing the Turkish–German University (TDU) in Istanbul that was opened in 2014.

Further information:
Statement of the HRK
www.hrk.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/meldung/hrk-praesident-protestiert-gegen-umgang-mit-hochschulangehoerigen-in-der-tuerkei-3999/
Science Ministry of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Statement of the Minister)
www.wissenschaft.nrw.de/presse/weitere-meldungen/details/statement-von-nrw-wissenschaftsministerin-svenja-schulze/
EUA (European University Association)
www.eua.be/activities-services/news/newsitem/2016/07/19/eua-statement-condemning-the-forced-resignation-of-1577-university-deans