Scholars associated with universities and higher education institutions in the UK and internationally have released an open letter of support for academics being victimised in Turkey. The list of signatories - currently 565- involves names from the University of Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics and SOAS in solidarity with the growing pressure on academics in Turkey who are facing attacks for demanding peace against war.

The scholars stated that they are extremely disturbed by Turkey's recent treatment of academics that have spoken out against atrocities being committed by the Turkish state against Kurds after 1,128 Turkish and Kurdish 'Academics for Peace' originally signed the "We will not be a party to this crime" statement which called on the Turkish government to cease hostilities against its Kurdish population.

Noting that these academics have been subject to a sustained campaign of abuse and violence from both the Turkish state and its supporters since the publication of this statement, the letter remarked that; "In recent speeches, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly denounced these academics. Subsequently, prosecutors have begun proceedings to charge all 1,128 of the original signatories with “propagandising for a terrorist organization” and “overtly insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state. If convicted of these charges they could face 1-5 years imprisonment".

Describing these unjust acts as unfolding in a context of continuing state violence against Kurds, the letter recalled that in December 2015 alone 100 Kurds were killed as a result of military operations conducted by the Turkish state.

"Since August 2015 there have been 52 open-ended and round-the-clock curfews imposed on over one million inhabitants in south east Turkey. In such a context, the clamp down on academic freedom constitutes another moment in the deepening authoritarianism of the Turkish state. This includes not attacks on not only academics but also the continuing imprisonment and deaths of journalists, lawyers and activists."

The signatories of the open letter of support called on the Turkish government to withdraw its prosecutions, immediately release all those imprisoned and commit to the principles of academic freedom and free speech. Scholars emphasised that they moreover reaffirm the Academics for Peace call on the Turkish government to cease their hostilities against Kurds.

The letter asked those willing to sign this statement, to email their name and institutional affiliation to [email protected]