Academic Solidarity e.V.

In recent years, many international actors have launched massive food projects in Africa with the claim of increasing agricultural production. However, these projects, which set out with the claim of “feeding Africa”, do not mean food security for local peoples and farmers on the continent, but rather seed dependency.

The Global Adventure of Seeds: Who is Feeding Whom?

According to the documentary “The Great Seed Theft” broadcast by Al Jazeera English, heirloom seeds that local farmers in Africa have planted for thousands of years and passed down from generation to generation are rapidly disappearing under the pressure of multinational corporations. These seeds are often replaced with patented hybrid seeds, and this new system creates a dependency that forces farmers to buy new seeds every season.

Seed Banks or Seed Prisons?

“Seed banks” funded by Norway, the US and other global actors, while ostensibly established to protect biodiversity, also come with legal frameworks that prevent farmers from sharing and replanting seeds. Some states within the African Union have begun implementing these legal regulations under the guise of “agricultural development.” However, this system eliminates farmers’ ownership of seeds and encourages the commercialization of seeds rather than their production.

Heirloom Seeds: The Key to the Future, Not Just the Past

Heirloom seeds are not just a nostalgic value; they are a strategic resource for climate change resilience, biodiversity and food sovereignty. In the documentary, many farmers and local organizations from Tanzania to Kenya emphasize that indigenous seeds are vital not only for agriculture but also for cultural identity. In this context, heirloom seed advocates are developing alternative models based on local knowledge, local seeds and farmers’ own decision-making mechanisms against international food programs.

Lessons for the World

In Turkey and around the world, traditional seeds are rapidly being replaced by hybrid, imported and patented seeds. Local seed networks, support for small producers and encouragement of seed sharing are among the important strategies developed against this trend.

Similar dynamics are also experienced worldwide, especially in South Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The commercialization of seeds is becoming not only an economic tool but also a form of biopolitical control. International civil society networks are trying to establish a transnational solidarity network to defend farmers’ rights over seeds.

For example, the world’s largest peasant movement, La Via Campesina, representing over 200 million farmers in more than 80 countries around the world, is effective both at the policy level (FAO, UN etc.) and in collaboration with local movements within the framework of the concept of “Food sovereignty”.

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.

Türkiye has recently been at a critical crossroads between democracy and authoritarianism. The arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the cancellation of his university degree have led to widespread protests across the country. These actions, led particularly by university students, have become a resistance movement against the government’s increasingly oppressive policies.

İmamoğlu’s Arrest and Cancellation of His Degree

On March 18, 2025, Istanbul University canceled Ekrem İmamoğlu’s degree on the grounds that there were irregularities in his transfer from a private university in Northern Cyprus to Istanbul University in 1990. This decision eliminated İmamoğlu’s possibility of running for the 2028 presidential elections.

The following day, on March 19, 2025, İmamoğlu and more than 100 people with him were detained on charges of corruption and links to the terrorist organization PKK. These arrests have been viewed by opposition and human rights organizations as politically motivated.

Ironically, while the fate of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s university degree has still not been clarified for years, opposition leader İmamoğlu’s degree has been revoked. Doubts about whether Erdoğan actually has a university degree are still being discussed in the public domain, but to date, no transparent documentation or independent verification has been produced on the subject.

Since the protests began, around 2,000 people have been detained nationwide, including a significant number of university students. Around 200 people are currently being held in custody.

Protests Led by University Students

İmamoğlu’s arrest and the revocation of his degree have caused a huge backlash among university students. Istanbul University students expressed their anger by boycotting classes and organizing protests on campus. These actions spread to other universities and turned into a student movement across the country.

Students have raised their voices against the oppression at universities with the slogan “If there is violence, there is no class.” Middle East Technical University (METU) students also protested the government’s oppressive policies by organizing marches on their campuses.

Calls for an Economic Boycott

Following İmamoğlu’s arrest, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel called for an economic boycott against companies close to the government. This call was supported by students and civil society organizations. Government officials, however, reacted harshly, describing these boycotts as “economic sabotage” and announced that legal action would be taken.

The Role of the Academy and International Reactions

Academics and universities in Türkiye supported the students’ protests and emphasized that academic freedoms must be protected. In forums held at Istanbul University, a decision was made for an academic boycott and it was stated that university administrations should be more resistant to government pressures.

In the international arena, the Council of Europe and various human rights organizations criticized İmamoğlu’s arrest and the democratic setbacks in Türkiye, calling on the government to respect the rule of law.

The Future of Türkiye and the Responsibility of the International Community

Türkiye is at a critical juncture between democracy and authoritarianism. İmamoğlu’s arrest and the rise of student movements demonstrate the desire of broad segments of society to embrace democratic values. It is of great importance for the international community to take responsibility for the protection of democratic institutions and the defense of human rights in Türkiye.

US President Donald Trump’s restrictions on international scientists continue in his second term. As of 2025, the US government has begun sending out new questionnaires, especially to scientists who receive funding from abroad or work with US-based support. This development is creating concern and distrust among researchers in Europe. Researchers working at some universities are being forced to fill out a questionnaire called “scientific security screening” for projects they conduct with American partners. The questions include the researcher’s international collaborations, political background, funding sources, and even themes in some of the studies they have published.

Trump drew attention with the pressures on Chinese scientists during his first term as president. Now, the same pressure and distrust policy has begun to be applied to European Union countries. In response, the European Commission announced last month that it had developed visa facilitation for researchers from the US and accelerated joint project application mechanisms compatible with Horizon Europe funds. This will allow scientists in the US to face less bureaucracy when they want to work at institutions in Europe or conduct temporary research. EU officials say this process is strategic both in terms of protecting scientific freedom and attracting talent.

The Trump administration’s new repressive policies towards science are making scientific cooperation with the US difficult, while creating new opportunities for Europe. European universities, especially those that emphasize principles such as funding independence, freedom of publication and research security, could crown these developments with a reverse brain drain. This process could change not only scientific production but also the direction of global knowledge flows.

Systemic attacks on Alawite communities in Syria since the beginning of 2025 have caused great concern in the international community and human rights organizations. According to reports from reliable sources such as the BBC, Wikipedia and the Association for Peoples in Danger (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker – GfbV), Alawite villages in the rural areas of Idlib and Latakia in particular have been the target of coordinated attacks by radical groups.

Increase in Attacks and Signs of Possible Ethnic Cleansing

According to the BBC’s report on February 15, 2025, massacres and forced displacements have been taking place in Alawite villages in recent months, with no distinction made between women, children and the elderly. It is reported that hundreds of civilians have lost their lives in the attacks and many are missing.

The Wikipedia page titled “2025 Massacres of Syrian Alawites” states that the attacks were organized by radical organizations such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The villages around Qadmus, Safita and Masyaf were particularly targeted. These attacks raise suspicions of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” because they were systematic, based on religious identity and targeted civilians. International Silence and Academic Responsibility

In its statement dated February 26, 2025, GfbV (Association for Endangered Peoples) criticized the silence and inadequate response of the international community and called for an immediate investigation into the attacks on Alevis as crimes of genocide. The organization emphasized that academic circles, human rights organizations and governments in particular should not remain indifferent to this process.

The Importance of Academic Solidarity

These attacks on Alevis are not just a sectarian conflict, but a deep crisis in terms of international human rights and genocide law. As academic communities, it is an ethical responsibility to condemn violence based on sect, ethnicity or belief and to be the voice of the victims.

Silence is Being Complicit in Crime

Another news report by the BBC on February 28, 2025 emphasizes that the inadequate responses of international institutions embolden radical groups. History shows us that remaining silent in the face of similar attacks in the past has led to greater disasters.

Therefore, strengthening the call for academic and social solidarity against the attacks on Alawites in Syria is not only a humanitarian but also a moral duty.

The European Union provides international cooperation and funding opportunities for academics, researchers, teachers, NGO representatives and students working in different fields such as education, research, innovation, culture, human rights and health. This week we would like to present examples of such programs.

1. Erasmus+ Program: Support in Education, Youth and Sport

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s flagship program in the fields of education, youth and sport. The new Erasmus+ program, covering the period 2021-2027, funds projects in the following areas

• Higher education projects: Academic collaborations, student and staff mobility, joint study programs.
• School education and vocational training: Teacher and student exchanges, innovative educational approaches.
• Youth and Sport projects: Activities that promote active participation of young people, solidarity and inclusion.

For detailed information and application: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu

2. Horizon Europe: Europe’s Future in Research and Innovation

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest funding program for science, technology and innovation. It supports projects with a total budget of approximately €95.5 billion in 2021-2027. The program supports projects in the following main areas:

• Health, Digitalization, Social issues such as Energy, Environment.
• Research and Innovation Partnerships: Collaborations between universities, companies, NGOs.
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie scholarships: Researcher mobility and career development.

For detailed information and application: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020

Current calls: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal

3. Creative Europe: Support for Culture and Creative Industries

Creative Europe is a major European Commission support program for institutions working in the field of culture, arts and media. It aims to strengthen cultural diversity, artistic expression and media freedom.

• Joint projects, festivals, publishing projects, film and media production are supported.

Detailed information: https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe

4. CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) Program: Funds for Democracy and Human Rights

CERV funds NGOs and public institutions working in the fields of fundamental rights, democracy, gender equality, anti-discrimination and raising citizenship awareness.

• Gender equality, human rights, democracy projects.

Detailed information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/citizens-equality-rights-and-values-programme-cerv_en

5. EU4Health: Innovative Projects in Health

EU4Health supports projects to strengthen health systems, fight disease and improve health across Europe. It offers opportunities for stronger and more resilient health systems post-pandemic.

• Public health, mental health, digital health solutions, health equity projects.

Detailed information: https://health.ec.europa.eu/funding/eu4health_en

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to establish international collaborations.
• Academic and professional development.
• Social contribution through innovative projects.
• New experiences for young people and teachers.

How to Apply?

• If you have a project idea, follow the appropriate grant calls.
• Collaborate with domestic and international partners.
• Contact country national agencies and offices that offer guidance on the application process (Erasmus+ National Agency: https://www.ua.gov.tr).

Important Note: Local seminars and information meetings are frequently organized for academics, NGOs and other organizations interested in applying for projects. You can attend these meetings and learn about the application process.

European funds offer unique opportunities for projects that contribute to making societies more inclusive, innovative and fair. We invite everyone who wants to shape the future to take advantage of these programs!

According to the “Freedom in the World 2025” report published by Freedom House, Türkiye was among the top 10 countries that experienced the greatest decline in freedoms in the last decade. Other countries where authoritarianism increased the most during this period include Nicaragua, Tunisia, El Salvador and Tanzania.

Freedom House evaluates freedoms under two main headings: political rights and civil liberties. The report states that Türkiye has experienced significant decline in both areas, and draws attention to serious problems in judicial independence, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and political pluralism in particular. Turkey has been in the “not free country” category since 2018.

Academic Freedoms and Scientific Independence Under Threat

The report also placed special emphasis on the decline of academic freedoms. It stated that the autonomy of universities in Turkey is systematically restricted, rectors are appointed based on political loyalty rather than academic merit, and critical thought is suppressed in academia. The dismissal of thousands of academics and the closure of some universities since 2016 have seriously damaged academic freedom in the country. This situation, by undermining scientific independence and academic innovation, could negatively affect Türkiye’s scientific and economic development in the long term.

Electoral Manipulation and Democratic Backsliding

According to the report, electoral manipulation is a growing source of concern. It states that in past elections in Türkiye, state resources were used in favor of the government, opposition candidates were disqualified through the judiciary, and public opinion was manipulated through media control. This situation reduces the effectiveness of democratic mechanisms and narrows the space for the opposition and civil society to move.

Türkiye in the Global Context

According to Freedom House data, Türkiye has become the eighth country in the world to have experienced the greatest democratic decline in the last decade. Other countries where freedoms have declined more rapidly include Nicaragua, Tunisia, El Salvador, Tanzania, Niger, Hong Kong and Serbia. The report emphasized that freedoms have declined for the 19^th consecutive year in the world, and that in 2024 alone, 60 countries have seen a decline in political rights and civil liberties.

The Freedom House report shows that if the current political and academic pressure in Turkey continues, there could be permanent damage to both democracy and scientific development. Protecting academic freedoms and rebuilding democratic values are vital to Türkiye’s future development.

Spain has seen remarkable economic growth in recent years thanks to its open immigration policies. The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2024, and much of this growth is due to the contribution of its immigrant workforce. Immigrants, particularly from Latin America and Africa, played a significant role in the labor market, filling approximately 409,000 of the 468,000 new jobs created. This contributed to the unemployment rate falling to its lowest level since 2008.

Spain’s approach holds important lessons for other European countries struggling with aging populations and low birth rates. Integrating immigrants into the economy not only closes the labor gap, but also contributes to the sustainability of social security systems. The example of Spain shows that well-managed immigration policies can boost economic growth.

In contrast, anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric are on the rise in some developed countries, such as Germany. While support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is growing in Germany, this is making it harder for immigrants to integrate into the country and has negative impacts on the labor market. Experts warn that such policies could negatively impact economic growth and deepen the labor shortage in the long term.

While Spain’s inclusive and open policies towards immigrants play an important role in economic growth and employment growth, adopting anti-immigrant policies can lead to economic stagnation and labor shortages in the long run. Therefore, it would be beneficial for Germany and other developed countries to reassess their immigration policies and adopt more inclusive and integration-supporting approaches, both economically and socially.