TÜBA Statement on Academic Freedom in the US
TÜBA is following with deep concern recent developments across several universities in the United States, where peaceful expressions of conscience in response to the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza have been met with serious restrictions.
The acts perpetrated in Gaza, conducted under the guise of counter-terrorism operations, have systematically targeted civilians — foremost women and children — resulting in the deaths of thousands. This ongoing process, carried out openly before the eyes of the international community for months, has reached to the level of genocide and constitutes a grave crime against humanity. These realities have mobilized students and academics around the world to raise their voices in defense of human dignity and fundamental rights.
Regrettably, measures indicate that many individuals who peacefully expressed humanitarian concerns have been subjected to disciplinary measures, suspension, or censorship. Institutions of higher education, traditionally sanctuaries of critical thought and open debate, must remain steadfast in safeguarding the right to free and peaceful expression, particularly when it is exercised in defense of universal human rights.
TÜBA acknowledges and supports the calls made by universities in the United States emphasizing the urgent need to protect academic spaces from suppression. Academic freedom is not merely an institutional value, it is a cornerstone of democratic societies and a vital mechanism through which global injustices are challenged.
We express our support for students, scholars, and academic communities striving for justice, peace, and human rights. We respectfully invite all relevant actors to ensure that universities continue to serve as environments where ideas, ethical concerns, and humanitarian principles can be voiced without fear or reprisal, especially in times of humanitarian catastrophe.
History has shown that safeguarding intellectual freedom is crucial for achieving academic excellence, effectively responding to global crises and wars, and advancing social progress and humanitarian understanding around the world.
Turkish Academy of Sciences
Academy Council