On 11th January 2016 over a thousand of Turkish and Kurdish scholars signed a statement “We will not participate in these crimes” initiated by “Scholars for Peace”, and called Turkish government to stop the campaign of terror against Kurds. After signing the statement its signatories became the target of yet another campaign of violence and oppression from the Turkish state and from the supporters of AKP, the ruling party in Turkey.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly denounced these academics and criminal proceedings against „Scholars for Peace” have been initiated, under the accusation of „spreading propaganda in support of a terrorist organization” and „ overtly insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state”. These actions have already resulted in imprisonment of 27 scholars who are currently facing up to five years in prison. Against others disciplinary proceedings have been started and they are threatened with losing their academic positions.  Signatories of the statement have been publicly stigmatized in the social media and the press by the supporters of the government and Turkish nationalists. Far right activists have also threatened that “the blood will be spilled”.

These repressions are taking place in conditions of ceaseless state violence directed against Kurds – in December 2015 alone one hundred Kurds have been killed in operations conducted by Turkish army. Since August 2015, in south-east Turkey, fifty two curfews have been enforced. These actions clearly show that violations of academic freedom are another step towards deepening the authoritarianism of the Turkish state. It involves not only persecution of academics but also killings of journalists, lawyers and political activists.

We call Turkish government to drop the charges against „Scholars for Peace”, to  immediately release the imprisoned academics and  to commit to the principles of academic freedom and free speech. We also pledge our support of the statement “We will not participate in these crimes” and we call to stop the terror campaign against Kurds immediately.

Signatories:
1.    Iwo Augustyński, PhD, Wrocław University of Economics
2.    Zofia Bałdyga, poetess, translator
3.    Beata Bandurska, actress, Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz
4.    Kacper Bartczak, poet, literary critic
5.    Tomasz Basiuk, PhD, American Studies Center, University of Warsaw
6.    Tomasz Bąk, poet
7.    Krzysztof Bąk, poet
8.    Joanna Bednarek, PhD, philosopher, writer
9.    Prof. Agata Bielik-Robson, PhD, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
10.    Monika Bobako, PhD, Questions of Boundaries Research Group, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
11.    Joanna Bocheńska, PhD, Institute of Oriental Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
12.    Marcin Bogucki, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
13.    Marcin Bogusławski, Institute of Philosophy, University of Łódź
14.    Adam Borowski, actor, Theatre of the Eighth Day in Poznan
15.    Marcin Boryczko, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
16.    Monika Borys, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
17.    Kamil Brewiński, poet
18.    Paweł Brożyński, doctoral student, Institute of  Art. History, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
19.    Barbara Brzezicka, PhD, Faculty of Philology, University of Gdansk
20.    Piotr Bujak, artist, doctoral student, Faculty of Art , Pedagogical University of Cracow
21.    Małgorzata Cackowska, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
22.    Sylwia Chutnik, writer
23.    Łukasz Cieślak, visual artist
24.    Anna Cieślewska, PhD, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
25.    Joanna Cywińska-Raczkowska, PhD, archaeologist, ethnologist
26.    Michał Czaja, poet, literary critic, doctoral student, Institute of Literary Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
27.    Prof.Przemysław Czapliński, PhD, Institute of Polish Culture, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
28.    Katarzyna Czarnota, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
29.    Marcin Czerkasow, writer
30.    Marcin Czerwiński, editor, Rita Baum Magazine
31.    Alicja Czyczel, cultural theorist
32.    Jakub Czyszczoń, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
33.    Anna Czyżewska, ethnologist
34.    Grzegorz Ćwieluch, journalist, sociologist
35.    Małgorzata Dawidek, PhD, visual artist , Slade School of Fine Art, University College London
36.    Jakub Dąbrowski, PhD, Faculty of Management of Visual Culture,  Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
37.    Iza Desperak, PhD, Institute of Sociology, University of Łódź
38.    Maria Dębińska, PhD, anthropologist
39.    Jagoda Dolińska, teacher, translator, doctoral student, Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw
40.    Justyna Drath, doctoral student, Institute of Literary Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
41.    Łukasz Drobnik, translator, writer
42.    Jacek Drozda, PhD, Public Space Research Institute
43.    Prof. Elżbieta Durys, PhD, Institute of International and Political Studies,  University of Łódź
44.    Joanna Erbel, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
45.    Dominika Ferens, PhD, Institute of English Studies , University of Wroclaw
46.    Kamila Fiałkowska, Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw
47.    Piotr Flądro, visual artist, Academy of Fine Arts in Wroclaw
48.    Gabriel Fleszar, musician
49.    Jerzy Franczak, PhD, writer, Faculty of Polish Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
50.    Bartosz Frąckowiak, director, Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz
51.    Prof. Małgorzata Fuszara, PhD, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Resocialisation, University of Warsaw
52.    Rafał Gawin, redactor, Arterie Magazine
53.    Maria Giedz, PhD, journalist, political scientist, WSB University in Gdańsk
54.    Hanna Gill-Piątek, journalist, Political Critique Magazine
55.    Monika Glosowitz, doctoral student, Faculty of Philology, University of Silesia
56.    Konrad Góra, poet
57.    Katarzyna Górna, visual artist
58.    Daga Gregorowicz, musician
59.    Marcin Grynberg, PhD, biologist, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
60.    Mariusz Grzebalski, poet, editor
61.    Agnieszka Grzybek, Fundacja Równości i Emancypacji STER
62.    Joanna Grzymała-Moszczyńska, doctoral student, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
63.    Krzysztof Gubański, sociologist, University of Warsaw
64.    Michał Herer, PhD, Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw
65.    Krzysztof Hoffmann, PhD, Department of Polish Studies, University of Warsaw.
66.    Filip Ilkowski, PhD, Institute of Political Science, University of Warsaw.
67.    Mikołaj Iwański, PhD, economist,  Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
68.    Rafał Iwański, PhD, economist, sociologist, Cultural center "Klub Skolwin" in Szczecin
69.    Krzysztof Izdebski, lawyer
70.    Askaniusz Jachimowski, doctor of medicine
71.    Rafał Jakubowicz, PhD, Faculty of Artistic Education, University of Arts in Poznan
72.    Mateusz Janik, PhD, philosopher, Theoretical Practice Magazine
73.    Ewa Jasiewicz, writer
74.    Krzysztof Jaskułowski, PhD,  Department of Historical and Political Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Wroclaw
75.    Łukasz Jastrubczak, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
76.    Ignacy Jóźwiak, anthropologist, University of Warsaw
77.    Piotr Juskowiak, PhD, Institute of Cultural Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Theoretical Practice Magazine
78.    Tomasz Kaczmarek, writer
79.    Krzysztof Kaliski, musician
80.    Anna Kałuża, PhD, Faculty of Philology,  University of Silesia
81.    Kuba Kapral, performer
82.    Mateusz Karolak, Institute of Sociology, University of Wroclaw
83.    Małgorzata Kaźmierczak, PhD, Szczecin Academy of Art
84.    Prof. Ewa M. Kębłowska-Ławniczak, PhD, Instytut Filologii Angielskie, University of Wroclaw
85.    Konrad Kęder, poet, editor,  FA-art. Magazine
86.    Marcin Kęszycki, actor, Theatre of the Eighth Day in Poznan
87.    Jarosław Kilias, PhD, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
88.    Tomasz Kitliński, PhD,  Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in   Lublin
89.    Barbara Klicka, poetess
90.    Piotr Klonowski, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
91.    Katarzyna Kmita-Zaniewska, PhD,  Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
92.    Justyna Knieć, editor, Time of Culture Magazine
93.    Maria Kobielska, PhD, Faculty of Polish Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
94.    Radosław Kobierski, poet, writer
95.    Jerzy Kociatkiewicz, PhD,  Department of the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Social Sciences and Humanities
96.    Prof. Dariusz Kołodziejczyk, PhD, Institute of History, University of Warsaw
97.    Aldona Kopkiewicz, writer
98.    Szczepan Kopyt, poet, musician
99.    Elżbieta Korolczuk, PhD Researcher, School of Culture and Education, Södertörn University
100.    Tomasz Kosiek, PhD, Institute of History, University of Rzeszów
101.    Prof. Monika Kostera, PhD, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
102.    Karolina Kotowska, graphic designer, „Chlebem i Solą – Polacy dla uchodźców” initiative
103.    Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Institute of Philosophy, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicz, Theoretical Practice Magazine
104.    Izabela Kowalczyk, PhD,  Faculty of Artistic Education, University of Arts in Poznan
105.    Beata Kowalska, PhD, Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
106.    Justyna Kowalska-Leder, PhD, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
107.    Prof. Grzegorz Kowalski, PhD, Faculty of Media Art,  Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
108.    Piotr Kowzan, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
109.    Iwona Kraska-Szlenk, PhD, Faculty of Oriental Studies,  University of Warsaw
110.    Rafał Krause, poet
111.    Dawid Krawczyk, journalist, Political Critique Magazine
112.    Zbigniew Kruszyński, writer
113.    Paweł Ksiązek, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
114.    Prof. Roman Kubicki, PhD, Institute of Philosophy, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
115.    Karolina Kubik, visual artist, doctoral student, University of Arts in Poznan
116.    Julia Kubisa, PhD, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
117.    Piotr Kubkowski, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
118.    Wojciech Kuczok, writer
119.    Dawid Kujawa, literary critic, doctoral student, Institute of Philosophy, University of Silesia
120.    Waldemar Kuligowski, PhD, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
121.    Roman Kurkiewicz, journalist, Colegium Civitas, TVN 24
122.    Joanna Kusiak,  Faculty of Management of Visual Culture, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
123.    Krzysztof Lalik, doctoral student, Department of Middle East and Far East Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
124.    Małgorzata Lebda, PhD, poetess, photographer, Pedagogical University of Cracow
125.    Prof. Andrzej Leder, PhD, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
126.    Patrick Leftwich, doctoral student, Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
127.    Paweł Leszkowicz, PhD,  Department of Art History,  Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
128.    Kacper Leśniewicz, journalist, Tygodnik Przegląd
129.    Olga Lewicka, PhD, Faculty of Painting and New Media,  Szczecin Academy of Art
130.    Małgorzata Maciejewska, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wroclaw
131.    Ewa Majewska, PhD, Institute for Cultural Inquiry Berlin
132.    Rafał Majka, lector, University of Bielsko-Biala
133.    Piotr Makowski, PhD, Institute of Philosophy, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
134.    Piotr Makowski, writer, journalist
135.    Kaja Malanowska, writer
136.    Maciej Malicki, PhD, Collegium of Economic Analysis, Warsaw School of Economics
137.    Karol Maliszewski, writer
138.    Magdalena Małachowska, PhD, Szczecin Academy of Art
139.    Marcin Małecki, musician
140.    Sara Manasterska, doctoral student, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw
141.    Jakobe Mansztajn, poet, blogger
142.    Lucyna Marzec, PhD, Faculties of Polish and Classical Philology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
143.    Marcin Marszałek, sociologist, Feminist Think Tank
144.    Krystyna Mazur, PhD, American Studies Center, University of Warsaw
145.    Piotr Mełech, musician
146.    Dominika Michalak, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
147.    Tomasz Misiak, PhD, philosopher, Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism, University of Lower Silesia
148.    Robert Mleczko, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media , Szczecin Academy of Art
149.    Paweł Mościcki, PhD, Institute of Literary Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
150.    Witold Mrozek, journalist, Gazeta Wyborcza
151.    Adam Mrozowicki, PhD, Institute of Sociology, University of Wroclaw
152.    Joanna Mueller, poetess, writer, redactor
153.    Klára Nádaská, doctoral student, Ústav evropské etnologie, Masarykova Univerzita
154.    Lech M. Nijakowski, PhD, Institute of Sociology,  University of Warsaw
155.    Jakub Nikodem, doctoral student, Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw
156.    Piotr Nowak, journalist, Strajk.eu
157.    Aleksandra Nowysz, architect, doctoral student, Faculty of Architecture, Wroclaw University of Technology
158.    Joanna Oparek, writer, poetess
159.    Marcin Orliński, poet, literary critic
160.    Cezary Ostrowski, composer
161.    Przemysław Owczarek, PhD, anthropologist, writer
162.    Dariusz Pado, poet
163.    Alicja Palęcka, sociologist, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
164.    Edward Pasewicz, writer, composer
165.    Marek Pawlak, PhD, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
166.    Katarzyna Pągowska, actress, Teatr Realistyczny in Skierniewice
167.    Tomasz Piątek, doctoral student,  Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
168.    Jarosław Pietrzak, film critic, Le Monde diplomatique -  Polish edition
169.    Alicja Pilarczyk, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
170.    Tomasz Płomiński, doctoral student, Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw
171.    Piotr P. Płucienniczak, PhD, sociologist, artist, wydawnictwo Rozdzielczość Chleba
172.    Kacper Pobłocki, PhD, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology,  Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
173.    Krzysztof Podemski, PhD, Institute of Sociology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
174.    Beata Anna Polak, PhD, Questions of Boundaries Research Group, Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
175.    Aleksandra Polisiewicz, doctoral student, Faculty of Multimedia Communication, University of Arts in Poznan
176.    Michał Pranke, poet, doctoral student, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
177.    Magdalena Prusinowska, translator
178.    Kuba Przybyłowski, poet, journalist
179.    Kamil Radomski, journalist Polish National Radio
180.    Mikołaj Ratajczak, translator, editor
181.    Michał Rauszer, PhD, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Silesia
182.    Maciej Robert, PhD, cultural theorist, poet
183.    Paweł Rodak, PhD, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
184.    Bianka Rolando, writer, visual artist
185.    Joanna Roszak, PhD, writer, Institute of Slavic Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences
186.    Robert Rybicki, poet, translator, redactor
187.    Piotr Rymarczyk, PhD, sociologist, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw
188.    Bartosz Sadulski, poet, journalist
189.    Jakub Sajkowski,poet, translator
190.    Łukasz Saturczak, journalist Newsweek Polish edition
191.    Marcin Sendecki, poet
192.    Mariusz Sieniewicz, writer
193.    Karol Sienkiewicz, art critic
194.    Magdalena Sierakowska, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Life Sciences in Lublin
195.    Aleksandra Ska, PhD, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media,  Szczecin Academy of Art
196.    Łukasz Skąpski, PhD, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
197.    Agata Skórzyńska, PhD, cultural theorist, Faculty of Culture,  Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
198.    Jakub Skurtys, doctoral student, Faculty of Philology, University of Wroclaw
199.    Łukasz Smuga, PhD, Institute of Romance Philology, University of Wroclaw
200.    Özgür Soner, doctoral student, Faculty of Journalism and Political Studies, University of Warsaw
201.    Jan  Sowa, PhD, Faculty of Polish Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
202.    Dagmara Staga, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
203.    Piotr Stańczyk, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
204.    Karolina Starego, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
205.    Maja Staśko, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
206.    Grzegorz Stunża, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Gdansk
207.    Łukasz Surowiec, artist, doctoral student, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow
208.    Krystian Szadkowski, PhD, Institute of Philosophy, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
209.    Magda Szcześniak, PhD, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
210.    Maciej Szlinder, sociologist, Theoretical Practice Magazine
211.    Michał Szostek, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
212.    Marianna Sztyma, illustrator
213.    Marzena Szugiero, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
214.    Marcin Szuster, editor, translator
215.    Oskar Szwabowski, PhD, University of Szczecin
216.    Maciej Taranek, poet
217.    Małgorzata Tekiel, musician
218.    Prof. Patrycja Tomczak, PhD, Institute of Romance Philology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
219.    Grzegorz Tomicki, PhD, writer, literary critic
220.    Maciej Topolski, editor, translator
221.    Marta Trawinska, PhD, sociologist
222.    Rafał Urbacki, director, choreographer
223.    Judyta Wachowska, PhD, Institute of Romance Philology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
224.    Joanna Wajs, translator, poetess, editor
225.    Jacek Wajszczak, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
226.    Jan Wasiewicz, PhD, Faculty of Artistic Education, University of Arts in Poznan
227.    Wanda Wasilewska, reporter, Polish National Radio
228.    Andrzej Wasilewski, PhD, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
229.    Prof. Marek Wasilewski, PhD, Faculty of Multimedia Communication,  University of Arts in Poznan
230.    Przemysław Wielgosz, editor Le Monde Diplomatique – Polish edition
231.    Wojciech Wilczyk, photographer
232.    Anna Witkowska, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art 
233.    Ilona Witkowska, poetess
234.    Przemysław Witkowski, PhD, journalist, poet, Political Critique Magazine
235.    Paweł Wodziński, director, Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz
236.    Waldemar Wojciechowski, PhD, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
237.    Joanna Wowrzeczka, PhD, Institute of Art, University of Silesia
238.    Cyprian Wólkiewicz, poet, translator, journalist
239.    Ewa Wójciak, actress, Theatre of the Eighth Day in Poznan
240.    Łukasz Wójcicki, performer
241.    Tomasz Załuski, PhD, Faculty of Modern Culture, University of Łódź
242.    Monika Hanna Zawadzka, PhD, artist, Faculty of Painting and New Media, Szczecin Academy of Art
243.    Adam Zdrodowski, PhD, Faculty of Graphic Arts, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw
244.    Clara Zgoła, doctoral student, Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw
245.    Justyna Zielińska, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw
246.    Jacek Zych, doctoral student, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw