A Decade Later: Academics for Peace Renew Call Amid Ongoing Persecution

Ten years after signing a landmark peace petition, members of the "Academics for Peace" group in Turkey say state persecution continues. They have renewed their commitment to their cause. The group of over 2,000 scholars signed a declaration in 2016 calling for an end to violence in the country's southeast. Many faced immediate criminal charges for "terrorist propaganda." Prosecutions, dismissals from universities, and passport bans followed. The academics say these human rights violations persist today. Despite this, the group's demand for peace remains. "Our call for peace is unchanged," their statement reads, emphasizing a continued readiness to work for a peaceful solution.