Criminal complaint against academic for targeting universities

"We won't get used to the darkness in universities" (Photo: MA)

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İstanbul no. 6 Universities' Branch of the Education and Science Laborers' Union (Eğitim-Sen) has filed a criminal complaint against Prof. Ebubekir Sofuoğlu from the Department of History of Sakarya University.

Attending a live program on pro-government Akit TV channel, Prof. Sofuoğlu previously said that universities were "almost the houses of prostitution." Amid public backlash, the university announced that it was probing the professor's remarks targeting universities.

Before filing a criminal complaint against Sofuoğlu against this background, the union executives made a statement for the press in front of the İstanbul Courthouse yesterday (December 28). Reading out the statement on behalf of the union, Branch Executive Board Member Arzu Acar said that Sofuoğlu uttered these remarks thanks to the government's support.

'He manifested his reactionist mindset'

Noting that Ebubekir Sofuoğlu's attack on universities and women was not the first, Acar also said, "Saying that 'universities were almost houses of prostitution', Sofuoğlu once again manifested his sexist, male and reactionist mindset. Afterwards, he said, 'Come on, let me take you for a tour. I will show you the dorms and aparts where they stay,' thereby showing that he was, in fact, targeting women students."

'We will continue exposing them'

Concluding the statement, Acar said, "We know that Sofuoğlu and those like him see universities as the conquered stronghold of their own dark mentality and speak with the ease stemming from this. We will keep on struggling to ensure that universities serve science, society and bright future again, just as will keep on exposing your dark mentality."

After this press statement, the union executives filed a criminal complaint against Prof. Ebubekir Sofuoğlu.

What happened?

Attending a live program on pro-government Akit TV channel, Prof. Ebubekir Sofuoğlu from the Sakarya University Department of History referred to universities in the following words: "Our Dear President also emphasized it. They are almost houses of prostitution."

After the other program guests objected and warned him saying, "But, professor, isn't it a bit harsh, please don't," Prof. Sofuoğlu went on to say, "Come on, let me take you for a tour. Where are you living?"

Prof. Sofuoğlu previously caused backlash for targeting the İstanbul Convention by saying, "İstanbul Convention will shed so much blood; it will be possible to take the children who want to change their gender from their families by force." The academic also alleged that "Google was invented by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid." (AÖ/SD)