EU says it is closely monitoring legal cases against critical academics

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for the European Commission, has said the European Union is closely monitoring developments regarding a number of Turkish academics who face legal proceedings for signing a declaration for peace that criticized the government over ongoing military operations in the Southeast.

The declaration, the number of signatories of which has reached 2,000 according to a statement announced by the Scholars for Peace initiative on Thursday, criticizes Turkey's security operations and calls for an end to the ongoing curfews in the Southeast and for fresh peace efforts. A number of public prosecutors have launched investigations into academics across the country who signed the declaration on suspicion of their supporting and spreading terrorist propaganda, while several universities have launched their own administrative enquiries into dozens of their academic staff.

Speaking to Today's Zaman, Kocijancic said, “The EU is following closely developments relating to individuals criticizing the government's position on the Kurdish peace process facing criminal investigations.”........http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_eu-says-it-is-closely-monitoring-legal-cases-against-critical-academics_409692.html
 15/1/16
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