239 Turkish University Professors Condemn Attack on Educational Facilities in Iran
239 distinguished professors and academics from Turkey have issued a joint statement strongly condemning the recent military attacks by the United States and Israel on universities and scientific centers in Iran, describing them as a clear instance of “epistemicide.”
The statement, considered one of the most explicit reactions from the region’s scientific community to recent developments, condemns these attacks as a crime against knowledge and emphasizes the necessity of preserving the sanctity of universities as a safe haven for humanity.
At the outset of the statement, the attacks on Iran’s educational facilities are described as epistemicide and a crime against humanity’s intellectual heritage. The signatories have reminded that according to international conventions, scientific centers must remain safe from any aggression, and their destruction constitutes a flagrant violation of humanitarian and legal principles.
The Turkish professors, expressing deep concern over the assassination and threats against Iranian scientists, warn that turning the academic space into a field of military conflict seriously endangers global scientific security. They have also called on UNESCO and the United Nations to swiftly design a mechanism to protect universities in war-torn regions.
In another part of the statement, Turkish academics criticize the silence of Western scientific communities regarding the attacks on Iranian universities. According to them, the double standards in response to the destruction of scientific infrastructure in different parts of the world undermine public trust in academic institutions.
The signatories have called for the cessation of academic and research cooperation with Israeli scientific institutions that play a role in the development of military technologies. It has also been proposed that pro-war scientific bodies be excluded from international conferences held in Turkey.
The final section of the statement is dedicated to expressing solidarity with Iranian professors and students. The signatories have declared their readiness to accept researchers and students whose educational centers have been damaged or closed. The proposal to establish a network of emergency scientific bridges to continue joint collaborations has also been put forward.
Reports indicate that the publication of this statement addresses the Turkish government, urging it to raise the issue of the immunity of scientific centers in wartime as one of the main axes of ceasefire negotiations in future meetings, including the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
