The arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the cancellation of his diploma created a breaking point in Turkey that deeply shook not only politics but also the academic world. The increasing pressure from the government targets not only politicians but also academics and students. The young generation in particular is increasingly choosing to go abroad as a way out.

İmamoğlu’s Arrest and the Reaction at Universities

İmamoğlu’s arrest on March 19, 2025 on political grounds and the subsequent detention of hundreds of students due to protests brought universities to the center of political conflict. Students began boycotting classes and protesting on many campuses from Istanbul University to Middle East Technical University.

Following these developments, more than 500 students were detained; It is reported that 299 of them are still under arrest.

Academy Under Pressure: Young People Seek Their Future Abroad

Political pressures affect everyone. The fact that the administrative staff at universities are made up of people close to the government, the restriction of scientific freedoms, the pressure to publish, and the censorship of freedom of expression play a decisive role in young academics turning abroad.

According to a March 2024 study by the Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center, 63% of young people between the ages of 18 and 25 want to live outside of Turkey. The most frequently cited reasons are more freedom (20.7%) and not feeling safe in Türkiye (16.8%).

At the same time, 44% of young academics stated that “I want to continue my academic career abroad at the first opportunity.”

Political Climate Affects Scientific Production

Universities in developed countries report a significant increase in the number of applications from Türkiye. Universities in Germany, the Netherlands and Canada have begun to open new scholarship and guest researcher programs for Turkish researchers. Global solidarity programs such as “Scholar at Risk” in particular are protecting academics from Türkiye. This wave of migration does not only mean individual escape, but also a large gap in Türkiye’s scientific production capacity.

Turkey is Moving Away from the Information Society

While rising youth protests are seen as a hope, the current political climate is alienating young people from the country. Academia, on the other hand, is nothing more than a silent witness to this crisis. Most universities have refrained from making any statements regarding İmamoğlu’s arrest and the student detentions. Türkiye’s future is being shaped not only at the ballot box but also in university lecture halls. However, if these lecture halls continue to empty, not only today’s knowledge but also tomorrow’s knowledge will be silenced.