The National Education Union is deeply concerned about recent developments in Turkey that raise serious questions about democratic rights, political freedom, and academic independence.
A report that a Turkish court has moved to remove Özgür Özel as leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party, alongside accounts of police action against the party’s democratically elected leadership, are troubling. These developments are part of a pattern of pressure on opposition figures and restrictions on political pluralism, compounded by concerns over the independence of the judiciary to enforce equal treatment under the law.
As a trade union representing education professionals, the NEU is particularly alarmed by the implications these developments may have for academic freedom and the ability of educators, students, and researchers to express ideas freely and engage in critical debate. A healthy democracy depends on the protection of these fundamental freedoms.
We stand in solidarity with educators, trade unionists, students, and democratic actors in Turkey who are working to uphold human rights, the rule of law, and democratic values.
The NEU supports calls from civil society organisations, including Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT), for the UK Government and Members of Parliament to raise these concerns publicly and through diplomatic channels. We urge the UK Government to affirm the importance of democratic standards, judicial independence, and respect for political rights in its engagement with Turkey.
The NEU will continue to work with international partners to defend education, democracy, and human rights wherever they are under threat.