The Politics of Academic Freedom in Turkey and Israel/Palestine
Is there academic freedom to speak of in the context of repression, war and occupation?
Recently, Turkish academics were jailed for supporting a petition calling to end government operations in Kurdish areas. In Israel, academics are under increasing pressure to remain institutionally complicit with the occupation. In Palestine, universities face violent incursions and arbitrary arrests. What does academic freedom actually mean in all these different contexts?
Opening the program, historian, author and columnist Zihni Özdil provides us background and analysis of the Turkish regime and its popularity.
Next, AUC/UvA lecturers, who are also members of Academics for Peace – Turkey and Academia for Equality – Israel are joined by the Vice President of Kadoorie University, Tulkarem – Palestine on Skype. They will discuss their experiences and insights tackling issues of complicity and resistance, and address the politics of academic freedom in relation to the regimes in Turkey and Israel/Palestine.
Everyone – not just academics! – is welcome
The event is open to the general public
