Letter to Editor, Nov. 22^nd, 2016

The Turkish government continues to attack and undermine education and exert increasing religious control on schools under the guise of responding to the failed coup attempt last Summer.

According to the Egitim-Sen trade union, which represents third-level education, almost 40,000 education workers have already been dismissed, including 2,219 who lost their jobs under the latest emergency decree at the end of October.

In addition, 2.829 education staff have been arrested without trial, while legal procedures have been initiated against 6.792 academics and administration staff.

Unfounded and illicit dismissals, investigations, persecutions and arrests continue on a daily basis.

IFUT strongly condemns this attack on education and education trade unions. We call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, TD to raise the protection and promotion of human and trade union rights in Turkey as a matter of urgency and to demand that Turkey abides by international commitments and obligations.

Sincerely,

Mike Jennings

General Secretary,

Irish Federation of University Teachers

11 Merrion Square,

Dublin 2

Tel. 087 6776747