1. Boğaziçi is a top public institution with an international standing. Dating back to 1863, it has strong scientific, intellectual, and democratic traditions. [2]

2. At Boğaziçi, rectors are elected through free and fair elections by faculties. The only time in the institution’s history when these democratic processes were suspended was in the aftermath of the 1980 coup d'état. [3] [4]

3. On 1 January 2021, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed a rector (VC) to Boğaziçi University in Istanbul from outside the Boğaziçi community. [1]

4. The appointee, Professor Melih Bulu, has been parachuted in without consultation with University staff or students.

5. Melih Bulu has been a member of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) since its foundation in 2002 and had run a campaign for nomination for the parliamentary elections in 2015.  

6. The appointment of Melih Bulu, has been seen as another step in Erdogan’s attempt to extend his influence over Turkey’s social and cultural life. [20]

7. He also faces allegations of plagiarism in his PhD thesis. [6]

8. Boğaziçi University faculty fear a number of negative consequences, including hiring based on political affiliation; malicious investigations against critical faculties; budget cuts to humanities and social sciences; and opening up the university’s iconic campus for private developers. [4]

9. For these reasons, Boğaziçi university students, staff, alumni and the broader civil society have organised peaceful protests and online campaigns demanding the appointee’s resignation, a return to the democratic process, and an end to outside interference. [1] [6] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

10. These protests were met with escalating attacks by the president, the ministry of the interior, the AKP establishment, and the AKP-controlled media. The political attacks have been accompanied by excessive use of force by the police, supported with snipers located around the campus.

11. To date, the police have arrested more than 200 students. Student homes have been raided by SWAT teams in full gear. There are frequent reports of unlawful strip searches and abuse by the police of those in custody. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

12. In Turkey: At least 34 bar association heads and scores of civil society and professional organisations have condemned the government-orchestrated violence against university students exercising their constitutional rights. [19]

13. Outside Turkey: Education Unions, professional organisations, and rights defenders have condemned the Turkish government’s attacks and expressed their support for Boğaziçi university students and staff.

Late on the 1st February 2021, the Turkish riot police occupied Boğaziçi’s campus in an attempt to break up the four-week-long student protests. The police attack occurred after the city governor’s office banned meetings, rallies, marches, concerts, sit-ins and other public gatherings for a month. 159 students have been arrested, of which around 70 are still in detention.

Boğaziçi University Alumni Association (BÜMED) chair Önder Şahin met the appointed rector early in the day, urging him to meet the students and prevent police intervention. The appointed rector declined to face the students, retorting that ‘touching him’ would be ‘touching the state’.

1. Confirm our commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression (including peaceful protests) as global values that should be upheld in Turkey and all over the world.

2. Declare our support and admiration for Boğaziçi university students and staff in their defence of academic freedom and freedom of expression as the only environment in which scientific research, learning, and social development can be achieved.

3. Call on the Turkish president, his government, his governors, and his security apparatus to stop the demonization of  Boğaziçi students and staff; release all Boğaziçi students in detention immediately; respect the right of Boğaziçi staff and students to choose their rector.

4. Call on all heads of governments, higher education institutions, and UNESCO to call on the Turkish officials to respect the demands of Boğaziçi staff and students.

1 A Craig Project Officer University of Birmingham
2 A. Galip Ulsoy Professor Emeritus University of Michigan
3 �ukasz Posłuszny Sociologist, PhD University of Wroclaw
4 Abram Lutes Vice-President External, CUPE 4600 Carleton University
5 Ahmet Guven Shop Worker Not disclosed
6 Alara Adali Writer / Facilitator Self-Employed
7 Alex Callinicos Emeritus Professor of European Studies King's College London
8 Ali H ÇAKTU Unemployed NA
9 Alice mennie Unemployed Blast
10 Allistair McRobert Reader LJMU
11 Amaryllis Quezada Communication and Advocacy Officer PAUSE program
12 Anna Gluckstein Teacher Stoke Newington school
13 Arif Bektas Journalist Evrensel-UK
14 Atacan Atakan PhD Candidate University of Arizona
15 Aude Merlin Lecturer ULB
16 Ayşe Bingöl Demir Lawyer Turkey Human Rights Litigation Project
17 AyÅŸe Polat PhD Candidate University of Cambridge
18 Aylin Tekiner Artist&Human Rights Defender freelance
19 Bahir Laattoe Retired Teacher National Education Union
20 Beata Kowalska Prof. of sociology Jagiellonian University
21 Bill Howes Retired NA
22 Candan Badem Assoc. Prof. Purged from Munzur University by government decree
23 Caner Ercan PhD Student / MD University of Basel
24 Cem Oyvat Senior Lecturer in Economics University of Greenwich
25 Ceren Sagir Deputy news editor Morning Star
26 Charlie Kimber Editor, Socialist Worker (UK) Socialist Worker
27 Cigdem Cidam Associate Professor Union College, NY
28 Cigdem Gelegen van Eijl Teaching Fellow and Researcher Kings College London
29 DaÄŸhan Irak Lecturer University of Huddersfield
30 David Mandel Professor Université du Québec à Montréal
31 Dilsa Deniz Lecturer University of California San Diego
32 Dr Alexander Guschanski Lecturer in Economics University of Greenwich
33 Dr Bee Hughes Chair Liverpool John Moores University University & Colleges Union
34 Dr Ewa Krolikowska-Adamczyk Senior Lecturer University of Greenwich
35 Dr Janroj Yilmaz Keles Senior Research Fellow Middlesex University, London
36 Dr Michael Szpakowski Artist & writer Independent
37 Dr Richard Wild Principal Lecturer in Criminology University of Greenwich
38 Dr Stephen Holden Bates Senior Lecturer University of Birmingham
39 Dr. Emek Ergun Assistant Professor University of North Carolina at Charlotte
40 Dr. med. Holger Steuernagel Medical Doctor Germany
41 Ece Algan Professor California State University San Bernardino
42 Edina Silajdzic Postdoctoral researcher Kings College London
43 Edouard Brézin Professor emeritus Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris
44 Emma Kennedy Lecturer in HE Learning & Teaching University of Greenwich
45 Eric Bonds Associate Professor of Sociology University of Mary Washington, USA
46 Esra Akcan Professor, Director Cornell University
47 Esra Arsan Assoc. Prof. of Journalism Independent
48 Fatma Muge Gocek Professor of Sociology University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
49 Feyzullah Cinpolat Director DGB
50 Fikret Howes N/A N/A
51 Filiz Capar Doctor Tower Hamlets
52 Gabriela Czarnek Researcher Jagiellonian University
53 Gabriela Czarnek Researcher Jagiellonian University
54 Gamze Evcimen Visiting Assistant Professor Kalamazoo College
55 Gavin Edwards Emeritus Professor of Literature University of South Wales UK
56 Gawain Little Imternational Committee Chair National Education Union
57 Gaye Onurer PhD candidate Queens University
58 Gemma Gordon Academic researcher King's College London
59 Gene McGuckin retired paperworker Vancouver Ecosocialists
60 GEORGIOS SAMAKOVITIS Associate Professor University of Greenwich
61 Gerald Clark Secretary Camden NEU
62 gerald nestler Artist/Researcher independent
63 Goze Saner Senior Lecturer Goldsmiths, University of London
64 Greg Albo professor York University
65 HakanAltun Visiting Scholar/Dr. Goethe Univrsity
66 Halina Grzyma Professor of Psychology Jagiellonian UNiversity
67 Hatice derin Mrs Asistan
68 Hayal Hanoglu PhD candidate University of Kent
69 Huseyin Elektrik Elektrik compani
70 Huseyin Elektrik Elektrik compani
71 Iain aCmpbell Retired retired
72 Ihsan Colak Lecturer Columbia University
73 Ingerid Straume Senior Academic Librarian University of Oslo
74 Isin Onol Visiting researcher Columbia University, New York, USA
75 Ivan Wels Teacher UK
76 Ivar Jordre Painter and s University of Bergen, Norway
77 James Brackley Lecturer University of Birmingham
78 James Grealy Teacher Retired
79 Jan Balbierz Professor Jagiellonian University, Kraków
80 Jan Rath Professor of Sociology University of Amsterdam
81 Jane Reynolds Teacher Mossbourne Community Academy
82 Janet Farrar Lecturer in Trade Union Education The Manchester College/ UCU
83 Jason Davidson Professor of Political Sciene University of Mary Washington
84 Jeff Powell Senior Lecturer University of Greenwich
85 Jeremie Roland Professor of Engineering Université libre de Bruxelles
86 Jillian Wallis Senior Lecturer University of Greenwich
87 Jo Alexander Retired teacher N/A
88 Jo McNeill Chair, University of Liverpool UCU & NEC University of Liverpool
89 Jo Miller Affiliated Lecturer / Dr University of Cambridge
90 Jo Miller Affiliated Lecturer / Dr University of Cambridge
91 Joanna Grzymala-Moszczynska Postdoctoral researcher Jagiellonian University, Poland
92 Joanna Pilarczyk Postdoctoral researcher Jagiellonian University
93 Jonathan Wroot Senior Lecturer in Film Studies University of Greenwich
94 Judith Deutsch Psychoanalyst Private office
95 Judith Mcvey Postgraduate student University of Sydney
96 Kamran Matin Senior Lecturer in International Relations The University of Sussex
97 Karol Górecki Student Jagiellonian University, Kraków
98 Keren Darmon Teaching Fellow University of Greenwich
99 Kevin Skerrett Trade Union Researcher CUPE
100 Konrad Wojnowski Assistant Professor Jagiellonian University
101 kumru toktamis associate Professor Pratt Institute
102 Louise Regan National Officer National Education Union
103 Luca Tasciotti Senior Lecturer in Economics University of Greenwich
104 M. Abbas Yongacoglu Emeritus Professor University of Ottawa, Canada
105 Maciej Grodzicki Assistant Professor Jagiellonian University in Kraków
106 Magda Psychotherapist Jagiellonian University
107 Manfred Ecker Nursery teacher Kindergarten Studentinnenkinder UNI-Campus Vienna
108 Marcin JarzÄ…bek Historian / PhD Jagiellonian University in Krakow
109 Marek Porzycki Dr Faculty of Law and Administration, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
110 Margaret Mills Retired University Professor Ohio State University
111 Maria del Rosario Acosta Lopez Professor University of California, Riverside
112 Maria Hengeveld PhD student University of Cambridge
113 Maria Nikolaidi Associate Professor in Economics University of Greenwich
114 Marita Sanders teacher retired
115 Mark Abel Senior Lecturer/Chair UCU University of Brighton
116 Mark Newman Retired Retired Teacher
117 Martin Powell-Davies District President Lancaster and Morecambe NEU
118 Marzenna Czerniak-Drożdżowicz academic, professor Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
119 Masoumeh Mansouri Lecturer in Computer Science Birmingham University
120 Matthew Gobey senior lecturer Manchester metropolitan
121 Max Hyde Retired teacher and Past President of the National Union of Teachers Home
122 Mehmet Ugur Professor of Economics and Institutions University of Greenwich
123 Michał Górnik PhD candidate University of Warsaw
124 Miriam Scharf Retired Teacher Newham NEU
125 Mitchell Teacher Public school
126 Monika Bergen Retired Lawyer (public service) Organisations supporting refugees in Berlin
127 Monika Kostera Professor Södertörn University, Sweden
128 Muge Ozbay Dr. Goldsmiths, University of London
129 Muireann Crowley Learning Technologist University of Edinburgh
130 Nabil Al-Tikriti Associate Professor University of Mary Washington
131 Natalia Zawiejska Assistant Professor Jagiellonian University
132 Natalia Zawiejska Assistant Professor Jagiellonian University
133 Navjot Sangwan Lecturer University of Greenwich
134 Niall Gallen PhD Candidate University of Birmingham
135 Nida Arguner Retired Turkey
136 Nuno Ferreira Professor of Law University of Sussex
137 Oktay Sahbaz Teacher of Computer Science Secondary school in Hackney
138 Ozan Caglayan Research Associate Imperial College London
139 Ozge Ozduzen Lecturer Brunel University London
140 Ozgur Cinar Associate Professor University of Greenwich
141 Ozgur Cinar Associate Professor University of Greenwich
142 Ozlem Koseoglu Ornek Post doc researcher LMU/Munih
143 Ozren Pupovac Assistant Professor in Philosophy University of Rijeka
144 Paulina Kramarz Professor of biology Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biology
145 Peta Bulmer Post-doctoral research associate University of Liverpool
146 Peter Tatchell Director Peter Tatchell Foundation
147 Pierre-Guillaume Méon Professor Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
148 Professor Dave Hill Emeritus Professor Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford and Cambridge, UK
149 Przemysław Tacik Assistant Professor, PhD Jagiellonian University
150 Rada Daniell Activist, Journalist N/A
151 Rafał Majerek Senior Lecturer / PhD Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland
152 Raluca Marinciu Teaching Assistant and Employability Advisor University of Greenwich
153 Raymond Long Retired none
154 Rebecca Smith Senior lecturer University Of Greenwich
155 Ruken Suphandag Lawyer Self Employed
156 Ruth Ballardie Senior Lecturer University of Greenwich
157 Safak Tartanoglu Bennett Research Fellow University of Greenwich
158 Sam gindinI Retired Socialist project
159 Sasha Simic Worker Central Books Ltd
160 Selim Cakmakli Dr. Rutgers University-Camden, NJ
161 Sema Thompson Interpreter Self employed
162 Sofia Soares Lawyer Portugal
163 Stephen Brown Mr self-employed musician
164 Stephen Parsons Associate Professor/Dr University of Southern Denmark, Sønderborg
165 SUNA ALAN Singer Independent
166 Sunil Banga President, Lancaster UCU Lancaster University
167 Susan Corby Professor emerita University of Greenwich
168 Sven van Eijl Laboratory Manager QMUL
169 Türkan Özcan Ms Director/London
170 Thomas Marois Senior Lecturer SOAS University of London
171 Thomas Rabensteiner PhD candidate University of Greenwich
172 Timothy William Drayton Freelance translator Self-employed
173 Truls Strand offerdal Phd student University of Oslo
174 Turkan Ozcan Ms Director/London
175 Umit Yildiz Dr The University of Manchester
176 Una Doyle Teacher Camsen NEU
177 Vicky Blake President University and College Union
178 Volkan Aytar Teaching Faculty Virginia Commonwealth University
179 Werner Bonefeld Professor / University of York (UK)
180 Wiktoria Frankiewicz Student Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
181 Yektan Turkyilmaz Research Fellow / Dr. Forum Transregionale Studien
182 Yektan Turkyilmaz Research Fellow / Dr. Forum Transregionale Studien
183 Zafer Yörük Dr. Expelled from a Turkish university for signing the peace petition
184 Zakdoagn Self employed LACC
185 Zehra Erdost Retired Retired
186 Zeynep ARIKAN YILMAZ Research assistant/MA. University of Mainz
187 Zofia Prokop Assistant Professor Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland
188 Zsofia Zador PhD candidate University of Greenwich

1. https://www.duvarenglish.com/neoliberal-authoritarianism-at-its-best-bogazici-university-academics-defy-erdogans-rector-appointment-news-55763
2. http://www.boun.edu.tr/en-US/Content/About_BU/History
3. https://bianet.org/english/education/236977-academic-administrators-can-be-appointed-only-after-being-elected
4. https://www.duvarenglish.com/neoliberal-authoritarianism-at-its-best-bogazici-university-academics-defy-erdogans-rector-appointment-news-55763
5. https://www.birgun.net/haber/academics-of-bogazici-university-protest-lifting-of-rector-elections-133949
6. https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/01/turkey-student-protest-erdogan-loyalist-bogazici-melih-bulu.html
7. https://haberler.boun.edu.tr/en/news/melih-bulu-has-been-appointed-rector-bogazici-university
8. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/06/istanbul-university-students-clash-with-police-over-rector-appointment
9. https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-police-attack-tear-gas-bogazici-students-protesting-erdogans-rector-appointment-news-55731
10. https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-bogazici/turkish-university-teachers-protest-against-erdogan-appointed-rector-idINL8N2JG2XF
11. https://www.duvarenglish.com/bogazici-students-defy-erdogans-rector-in-mass-numbers-news-55755
12. https://twitter.com/BUicinMezunlar/status/1346850526063943680
13. https://twitter.com/bumedofficial/status/1346019155896639490
14. https://twitter.com/BUeuropeBelgium/status/1346822861567221760 
15. https://www.duvarenglish.com/police-sought-to-strip-search-detained-bogazici-protesters-lawyer-news-55743 
16. https://www.duvarenglish.com/police-battery-of-bogazici-students-confirmed-by-medical-examinations-news-55774
17. https://twitter.com/selingirit/status/1346765210351259648
18. https://bianet.org/english/human-rights/237243-bogazici-university-protests-24-people-released-from-detention 
19. https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkeys-erdogan-claims-terrorists-are-involved-in-bogazici-university-protests-news-55789
20. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/world/asia/turkey-bogazici-university-protests-erdogan.html 

Appendix 1: Boğaziçi University Executive Board

Prof. Melih Bulu (Rector) …………………………………….. melih.bulu@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Ali Izzet Tekcan (Vice Rector)………………………….. tekcanal@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Naz Zeynep Atay (Vice Rector) ………………………… zatay@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Aysin Ertuzun (Vice Rector) …………………………… ertuz@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Gunay Anlas (Acting Dean) ……………………………. anlas@boun.edu.tr
Prof.  Yasemin Bayyurt  Kerestecioğlu………………………. bayyurty@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Taner Bilgiç…………………………………………….. taner@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Ayse Gul Toker (Acting Dean)………………………… tokera@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Ozlem Berk Albachten ………………………………… ozlem.berk@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Ekrem Unal Zenginobuz ………………………………. zenginob@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Arzu Tektas ……………………………………………. tektas@boun.edu.tr
Prof. Yavuz Akpinar (Acting Secretary General) …………… akpinar@boun.edu.tr
Hasan Demirkıran (Undergrad. Student Representative) …… tr.hasandemirkiran@gmail.com
Mert Deniz Polat (Grad Student Representative) …………… mdpolat@gmail.com

Appendix 2: The Turkish Council of Higher Education

Prof. M. A. Yekta Saraç (President)
Prof. Rahmi Er (Deputy President) ………………………. rer@ankara.edu.tr
Prof. M. İ. Safa Kapıcıoğlu (Deputy President) …………. miskapicioglu@ybu.edu.tr
Prof. Necip Camuşcu (Exec. Board Member)
Prof. Naci Gündoğan (Exec. Board Member) …………… nacigundogan@anadolu.edu.tr
Prof. Mehmet Şişman (Exec. Board Member) ………….. msisman@marmara.edu.tr
Prof. Metin Topcuoğlu (Exec. Board Member) ………… metin.topcuogluasbu.edu.tr
Prof. Zeliha Koçak Tufan (Exec. Board Member) ……… zktufan@ybu.edu.tr
Naci Ağbal
Prof. Mehmet Çelik ……………………………………... mehmetcelik@ankara.edu.tr
Prof. Mustafa Çiçekler ………………………………….. mustafa.cicekler@medeniyet.edu.tr
Prof. Hayati Develi ………………………………….…... develi@istanbul.edu.tr
Prof. Nihat Hatipoğlu
Fahri Kasırga
H. Abdullah Kaya
Metin Kıratlı
Prof. Hasan Mandal ……………………………………..... hmandal@sabanciuniv.edu
Prof. Murat Tuncer ……………………………………...... bilgi@drmurattuncer.com
Prof. Hasan Nuri Yaşar …………………………………… nuri.yasar@marmara.edu.tr
Prof. Muammer Yaylalı ………………………………….. muammer.yaylali@erzurum.edu.tr

Institutional Contact Information:
Address: Council of Higher Education (CoHE) 06539 Bilkent/Ankara
Telephone: +90(312)298-7000
Fax: +90(312)266-4759
Twitter: @yuksekogretimk