Üniversite Konseyleri Derneği

Ömer Cebeci must resign, partisan employment in TÜBİTAK should end

TÜBİTAK is Turkey's main public body for organizing scientific research. It is also the publisher of Turkey's oldest popular science magazine, Bilim ve Teknik (BT). According to recent news, the March 2009 issue of BT was planned to cover Charles Darwin and biological evolution. However, TÜBİTAK vice president Ömer Cebeci interfered, and demanded a change in the magazine's content, including removal of Darwin from the cover. Cebeci's demands were realized. He has not denied the claims.

Evolution is one of the core elements of life sciences. There were 23,406 articles published on the subject in international journals only since the beginning of 2008. This includes major science journals such as Nature and Science. TÜBİTAK's own peer-reviewed publications, such as Turkish Journal of Biology, also regularly publish evolutionary research. It therefore appears that TÜBİTAK vice president Ömer Cebeci does not follow scientific literature, neither international, nor national, nor from his own institution. He is simply ignorant. Furthermore, Mr. Cebeci has abused power by interfering with popular science activities which do not fit his world view. Mr. Cebeci is an ignorant and incompetent administrator. The political and bureaucratic circles who have offered Mr. Cebeci this post are similarly incompetent. The situation has no other explanation.

If TÜBİTAK ends up dominated by religous fanatics, Fethullah Gulen followers, ignorant and incompetent cadres, this will lead to nothing but a further decline in Turkey's scientific endeavour. In the long run, it will contribute to Turkey's economic and political dependence. In fact, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), might favour this outcome. AKP's best allies, rich states and circles such as the US and the EU, must be openly wishing such an outcome.

We call both upon the university community, and our people, to be alert against the AKP.

As for TÜBİTAK, it has to clarify this issue as soon as possible. The pro-AKP partisan employment policies in this key institution must end.

And Ömer Cebeci must resign immediately.

Association of University Councils