Turkish Protesters Welcome Sacking of Politically Appointed Rector

Bogazici University students hold placards and shout slogans against the government during a demonstration against their new rector, Melih Bulu, in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU

Bulu had been appointed to the rector's office only seven months ago by President Erdogan, and his appointment triggered massive student protests across the country in support of academic freedoms, which were dispersed by brutal police intervention.

Hundreds of students were detained, and dozens were injured and sent to house arrest during the protests in the past six months.

Bulu is a member of Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP and his PhD thesis and several of his academic articles were deemed to reflect plagiarism.

Students and academics welcomed the decision but insisted that they want to elect their own rector.

"We have been saying we will not accept this and won't give up since January 2. We have sent Bulu away just like he came. We will elect our own rector … Rectors will be decided by elections!" Can Candan, a faculty member at the Bogazici University, wrote on Twitter.

"We will not accept any other appointed rector who will take Bulu's place. We call on all members of the university for an election," Bogazici Solidarity, one of the organisers of the student protests, wrote on Twitter.

Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, President Erdogan's government cancelled rectoral elections with a presidential decree.

Erdogan has since appointed rectors himself. Critics say he aims to control academia and diminish critical voices as part of a broader crackdown.

Bogazici is one of the best universities in Turkey and is often nicknamed the Turkish Harvard. The university is the only Turkish...