Open Letter

Gaza Statement to the World: From Rectors of 128 Universities in Turkey

August 18, 2014

In Gaza, there has been a great tragedy for humanity. The whole world is not reacting to it, as if they were all deaf and blind. The Israeli government has lost its discernment and has cruelly targeted Palestinian children. In Ramadan, the Muslim world’s holy month, people having iftar were disrupted by Israeli bombs, by tears, grief and sorrow. Everyone who remains silent in the face of this Israeli cruelty is complicit in this crime.
 

In Gaza, there has been a great tragedy for humanity. The whole world is not reacting to it, as if they were all deaf and blind. The Israeli government has lost its discernment and has cruelly targeted Palestinian children. In Ramadan, the Muslim world’s holy month, people having iftar were disrupted by Israeli bombs, by tears, grief and sorrow. Everyone who remains silent in the face of this Israeli cruelty is complicit in this crime. 

The whole world, especially Islamic, has to stand together in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters and against the crimes of the Israeli government.

 

Israel will end up with nothing from these cruel attacks. But without international outrage an action, it will not be compelled to listed to the stories of the Palestinian children who were murdered.

 

As undersigned rectors of universities in Turkey, we strongly condemn the Israeli occupation’s air aggression against the Gaza Strip since 8 July 2014. We vehemently condemn these attacks, which blatantly violate human rights and international law, and in which hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, have been killed and thousands have been injured.

 

This is not the first attack of the Israeli occupation against Gaza; it is just the latest Israeli violation of international law. The basic reason why Israel became more aggressive and belligerent is the clear support from the US, EU, Arab governments and especially the UN. The international community is ignoring Israel’s policies, which are crimes of war and crimes against humanity, instead of applying effective pressure on Israel, as we would expect.

 

International public opinion expects the United Nations Security Council, whose mission is to protect international peace and order, but which has failed to uphold its mandate many times, to condemn Israel because of these crimes and to impose sanctions on it without further delay. Although Israel has violated and defined tens of UN Security Council resolutions, it is intriguing that to date no sanctions have ever been imposed on Israel.

We as Rectors of universities in Turkey declare that we shall:

 

  • take full responsibility to build public opinion against Israel’s massacre on national and international platforms,

 

  • start funding and aid campaigns in all universities around Turkey to support our brothers and sisters in Gaza,
     
  • use all available legal procedures to make Israel pay compensation for every Palestinian killed or injured in Gaza,
     
  • ensure that all those responsible for perpetrating this massacre are prosecuted and held accountable before international law, 
     
  • raise international pressure to end Israel’s illegal siege and occupation of Gaza, 
     
  • support the demand of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, who live under prison-like conditions in their own homeland, to establish an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital,  
     
  • stop all forms of academic, cultural and social relations with Israeli universities that do not condemn the Israeli massacre in Gaza, until that massacre against our brothers in Gaza is stopped and Israel’s siege of Gaza is lifted,
     
  • continue all forms of academic, cultural and social relations with Israeli universities and academicians that react, raise their voice and protest against the massacre committed by the Israeli government in Gaza, 
     
  • provide all forms of support to Jewish Israeli citizens who protest the Israeli government’s policies for the sake of the oppressed people of Palestine, who are suffering and being killed in their own land. 
     

May Allah’s peace and mercy be upon our martyrs killed in the attacks by Zionist Israel. May their beloved ones accept our condolences, and may the injured get well soon.

Respectfully announced to the public.

 

Rectors of Universities in Turkey

 

Rector of Muş Alparslan University

Prof. Dr. Nihat İnanç

 

Rector of Yıldız Teknik University

Prof. Dr. İsmail Yüksek

 

Rector of İstanbul Teknik University

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Karaca

 

Rector of Hacettepe University

Prof. Dr. Murat Tuncer

 

Rector of Ankara University

Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş

 

Rector of Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University

Prof. Dr. İrfan Aslan

 

Rector of Samsun 19 Mayıs University

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Akan

 

Rector of Sakarya University

Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Elmas

 

Rector of Yıldırım Beyazıt University

Prof. Dr. Metin Doğan

 

Rector of Galatasaray University

Prof. Dr. Ethem Tolga

 

Rector of Gazi University

Prof. Dr. Süleyman Büyükberber

 

Rector of İstanbul University

Prof. Dr. Yunus Söylet

 

Rector of Social Sciences University of Ankara

Prof. Dr. Ömer Demir

Rector of Marmara University

Prof. Dr. M. Emin Arat

 

Rector of Akdeniz University

Prof. Dr. İsrafil Kurtcephe

 

Rector of Bezmialem University

Prof. Dr. Saffet Tüzgen

Rector of Cumhuriyet University
Prof. Dr. Faruk Kocacık,

Rector of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University
Prof. Dr. Musa Duman,

Rector of Kastamonu University 
Prof. Dr. Seyit Aydın,

 

Rector of Konya Necmettin Erbakan University.
Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Şeker,

Rector of Ordu University 
Prof. Dr. Tarık Yarılgaç,

Rector of Adıyaman University 
Prof. Dr. Talha Gönüllü,

Rector of Bartın University 
Prof. Dr. Ramazan Kaplan,

Rector of Üsküdar University 
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan,

Rector of Abant İzzet Baysal University
Prof. Dr. Hayri Coşkun,

Rector of Karabük University   

Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Uysal,

 

Rector of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şahin,

Rector of Ahi Evran University   

Prof. Dr. Kudret Saylam,

Rector of Bülent Ecevit University

Prof. Dr. Mahmut Özer,

Rector of Bingöl University       

Prof. Dr. Gıyasettin Baydaş,

Rector of Tunceli University       

Prof. Dr. Durmuş Boztuğ,

Rector of Bozok University       

Prof. Dr. Tamer Uçar,

Rector of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University

Prof. Dr. Azmi Özcan,

 

Rector of Harran University       

Prof. Dr. İbrahim Halil Mutlu,

Rector of Dicle University         

Prof. Dr. A. Jale Saraç,

Rector of Hakkari University     

Prof. Dr. Ebubekir Ceylan,

Rector of Hasan Kalyoncu University

Prof. Dr. Tamer Yılmaz,

Rector of Hitit University           

Prof. Dr. Reha Metin Alkan,

Rector of Selçuk University     

Prof. Dr. Hakkı Gökbel,

Rector of İstanbul Aydın University

Prof. Dr. Yadigar İzmirli,

Rector of Mardin Artuklu University

Prof. Dr. S. Bedii Omay,

Rector of KTO Karatay University

Prof. Dr. Ömer Torlak,

Rector of Dumlupınar University

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karaaslan,

Rector of Fırat University           

Prof. Dr. Kutbeddin Demirdağ,

 

Rector of İstanbul Medeniyet University

Prof. Dr. Hamit Okur,

Rector of Siirt University           

Prof. Dr. Murat Erman,

Rector of Adana Bilim Teknoloji University

Prof. Dr. Adem Ersoy,

Rector of Yeni Yüzyıl University 

Prof. Dr. H. Hüsnü Gündüz,

Rector of Aksaray University   

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Acar,

Rector of İstanbul Medipol University

Prof. Dr. Sabahattin Aydın,  

 

 

Rector of Yüzüncü Yıl University

Prof. Dr. Peyami Battal,

Rector of Mustafa Kemal University

Prof. Dr. H. Salih Güder,

Rector of Pamukkale University 

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı,

 

Rector of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey Univ.

Prof. Dr. Sabri Gökmen,

 

Rector of Adnan Menderes University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Birincioğlu,

 

Rector of Namık Kemal University

Prof. Dr. Osman Şimşek,

Rector of Kırklareli University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aykaç,

Rector of Beykent University

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Karahan,

Rector of Atatürk University 
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak,

Rector of Erzurum Teknik University

Prof. Dr. Muammer Yaylalı,

Rector of Çankırı Karatekin University

Prof. Dr. A. İbrahim Savaş,

 

Rector of Kafkas University     

Prof. Dr. Sami Özcan,

 

Rector of Süleyman Demirel University

Prof. Dr. Hasan İbicioğlu,

Rector of Uşak University

Prof. Dr. Sait Çelik,

Rector of Şırnak University 
Prof. Dr. Ali Akmaz,

Rector of Iğdır University 
Prof. Dr. İ. Hakkı Yılmaz,

Rector of Ardahan University 
Prof. Dr. Ramazan Korkmaz,

 

Rector of Yalova University 
Prof. Dr. Niyazi Eruslu,

Rector of Bitlis Eren University 
Prof. Dr. Mahmut Doğru,

Rector of Batman University 
Prof. Dr. Abdüsselam Uluçam,

 

Rector of Osmaniye Korkutata University

Prof. Dr. Orhan Büyükalaca,

 

Rector of Bursa Teknik University

Prof. Dr. Ali Sürmen,

Rector of Niğde University 
Prof. Dr. Adnan Görür,

Rector of Sinop University 
Prof. Dr. Recep Bircan,

Rector of Artvin Çoruh University

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Duman,

Rector of Gaziantep University 
Prof. Dr. Yavuz Coşkun,

Rector of Erzincan University 
Prof. Dr. İlyas Çapoğlu,

Rector of İstanbul Gelişim University

Prof. Dr. Burhan Aykaç,

Rector of Nişantaşı University

Prof. Dr. Kerem Alkın,

Rector of Afyon Kocatepe University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Solak,

Rector of Karadeniz Teknik University

Prof. Dr. Süleyman Baykal,

Rector of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Karaman,

Rector of Süleymanşah University

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Ekiz,

Rector of Gümüşhane University

Prof. Dr. İhsan Günaydın,

Rector of Kilis  7 Aralık University

Prof. Dr. İsmail Güvenç,

Rector of Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Prof. Dr. Hasan Gönen,

Rector of Kırıkkale University

Prof. Dr. Ekrem Yıldız,

Rector of Türk-Kazak University

Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız

Rector of Çukurova University 
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kibar,

Rector of İzmir Katip Çelebi University

Prof. Dr. Galip Akhan,

Rector of Anadolu University 
Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan,

Rector of Bayburt University 
Prof. Dr. Selçuk Coşkun,

Rector of İnönü University 
Prof. Dr. Cemil Çelik

Rector of Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University

Prof. Dr. M. Fatih Karaaslan

Rector of Gebze YTE 
Prof. Dr. Orhan Şahin,

Rector of Uludağ University 
Prof. Dr. Kamil Dilek,

Rector of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Prof. Dr. Mansur Harmandar,

Rector of Zirve University 
Prof. Dr. Adnan Kısa,

Rector of Yeditepe University 
Prof.Dr. Nurcan Baç,

Rector of Doğuş University 
Prof.Dr. Abdullah Dinçkol,

Rector of Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar University 
Prof. Dr. Yalçın Karayağız,

Rector of Bahçeşehir University 
Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın,

Rector of İstanbul 29 Mayıs University 
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kâfi Dönmez,

Rector of Balıkesir University 
Prof. Dr. Mahir Alkan,

Rector of Biruni University 
Prof. Dr. Adnan Yüksel,

Rector of Amasya University 
Prof. Dr. Metin Orbay,

Rector of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Saatçi,

Rector of Celal Bayar University

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Pakdemirli,

Nevşehir Haci Bektaş Veli University
Prof. Dr. Filiz Kılıç,

Rector of Düzce University 
Prof. Dr. Funda Sivrikaya Şerifoğlu

 

Rector of Gedik University

Prof.Dr. Berrak Kurtuluş

 

Rector of Dokuz Eylül University

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Füzün

Rector of Avrasya University

Prof. Dr. Sami Karadeniz
 

August 18, 2014
/

SHARE

Stay updated!

Sign-up for news, campaign updates, action alerts and fundraisers from the BDS movement.

Subscribe Now