Academics of Boğaziçi University visit Union of Turkish Bar Associations

* Photos: Boğaziçi University academics

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The academics and alumni of Boğaziçi University, who have been protesting the appointed rectors since early January 2021, met Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Chair Erinç Sağkan.

A delegation of Boğaziçi University academics Prof. Lale Akarun, Prof. Mine Eder, Prof. Ayşe Mumcu, Prof. Ünal Zenginobuz, Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Ersoy and Assoc. Prof Özgün Konca; Bülent Üner on behalf of the Boğaziçi University alumni and the academics' lawyer Fırat Kuyurtar had a meeting with TBB Chair Sağkan and his advisor Kasım Akbaş.

Speaking on behalf of the academics, Prof. Lale Akarun said that "Boğaziçi University has a pluralist and egalitarian environment which offers a space of freedom for all types of peaceful opinions." She stressed that its loss will be an irrecoverable loss for the entire country.

Taking the floor afterwards, Boğaziçi University Senate member Prof. Ayşe Mumcu and Boğaziçi University Executive Board member Prof. Ünal Zenginobuz talked about how the university autonomy and academic freedom have been destroyed step by step since Prof. Melih Bulu was appointed the rector on January 2, 2021 in a process that continued with the dismissal of Bulu in mid-July 2021 and the appointment of Prof. Naci İnci.

Fırat Kuyurtar, the lawyer of the academics, also talked about the court cases filed about Boğaziçi University for over a year.

Lawyer Kuyurtar requested support from the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) in the face of unlawful practices:

* We request that the TBB support our cases which observe the best interests of the public, have been filed based on the conviction that it concerns the entire higher education across the country and aim to preserve administrative and scientific autonomy by intervening in the cases.

* As required by the duties and responsibilities defined in the Article 10 of the Attorneys' Act, we request that the TBB intervene in the case of annulment we have filed against the arbitrary decision establishing a Law Faculty at Boğaziçi without a Senate decision, in an unplanned-unorganized manner and based on caderization and file a lawsuit regarding the proceedings concerning the establishment of law faculties in a similar manner.

* We requested that a Higher Education Commission be established within the body of the TBB with the aim of ensuring that the regulations on higher education are executed in line with the country's needs and support is given against unlawful practices when necessary. (RT/SD)