--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So many academics have been imprisoned or…" description: "\"So many academics have been imprisoned or expelled from their university posts just because they signed a letter calling for peaceful solution to the K..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/burhan-sonmez-23988_democracy_so-many-academics-have-been-imprisoned-o_440047.jpg" --- # So many academics have been imprisoned or expelled from… ![“So many academics have been imprisoned or expelled from their university posts just because they signed a letter calling for peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. They are all declared enemies of the state by the president. Just because they published a letter saying, "stop killing each other…” quote by Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/burhan-sonmez-23988_democracy_so-many-academics-have-been-imprisoned-o_440047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/burhan-sonmez-23988_democracy_so-many-academics-have-been-imprisoned-o_440047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a40/burhan-sonmez-23988_democracy_so-many-academics-have-been-imprisoned-o_440047.jpg) > “So many academics have been imprisoned or expelled from their university posts just because they signed a letter calling for peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue. They are all declared enemies of the state by the president. Just because they published a letter saying, "stop killing each other and begin talking for a peaceful resolution." That kind of intolerance from the government towards the rest of society - especially people in favor of freedom of speech, human rights, and more democracy for everyone - is a very important issue in Turkey.” [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suppressing academic speech under the guise of security threatens democracy and human rights. **In simple terms:** Censoring scholars harms freedom and democracy. Key Takeaway Defend academic freedom and open dialogue. Themes free speech academia human rights Mood concerned serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - university debates - policy reform - international advocacy - public awareness Key Concepts democracy censorship Questions to Reflect On - How can scholars safely express dissent? - What mechanisms protect academic freedom? A Different Perspective Government may label dissent as treason. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Enemies State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-state-414878/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Intolerance Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance-government-3860213/) [Issue Turkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issue-turkey-3860214/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kurdish Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kurdish-issue-2226717/) [Peaceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Solution Kurdish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solution-kurdish-3860212/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Turkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkey/) ## Related quotes > [Turkey must find its place if, of course, it can heal its internal sores, and none is more malignant than the perennial Kurdish issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/turkey-must-find-its-place-if-of-course-it-can-heal-its-internal/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Tayyip Erdogan wants to go beyond George W. Bush by making critical journalism and critics in the academy illegal. What will be the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/tayyip-erdogan-wants-to-go-beyond-george-w-bush-by-making-critical/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [All who love Liberty are enemies of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-hess/all-who-love-liberty-are-enemies-of-the-state/) [Karl Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-hess/) > [The chief internal enemies of any state are those public officials who betray the trust imposed upon them by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/the-chief-internal-enemies-of-any-state-are-those-public-officials/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“The oldest of North Korean labor camps, Bukchang had been hosting dissidents and alleged enemies of the state since the fifties .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/the-oldest-of-north-korean-labor-camps-bukchang-had-been-hosting/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [I believe from what I have lately seen that we should be substantially safe were our Citizens Armed, but we have not as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-believe-from-what-i-have-lately-seen-that-we-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ I have never had any \[enemies\] other than those of the state. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardinal-richelieu/i-have-never-had-any-enemies-other-than-those-of-the-state/) [Cardinal Richelieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardinal-richelieu/) > [The chief internal enemies of any state are not spies nor saboteurs nor the paid agents of foreign governments. They are, on the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/the-chief-internal-enemies-of-any-state-are-not-spies-nor-saboteurs/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [Whoever says State necessarily says domination, and, consequently, slavery; a State without slavery, open or concealed, is inconceivable: that is why we are enemies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/whoever-says-state-necessarily-says-domination-and-consequently/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [It's a bit questionable whether Turkey is a model country or not, since our government is supporting ISIS in Syria, since there are legislations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/it-s-a-bit-questionable-whether-turkey-is-a-model-country-or-not/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Turkey are the independent people. We are our own nation in this world - a nation of writers, journalists, artists, moviemakers, and academics. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/turkey-are-the-independent-people-we-are-our-own-nation-in-this-world/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/in-1911-turkey-established-gun-control-from-1915-to-1917-1-5-million/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [Regardless of our ambitions to become part of the E.U., we have to keep in mind that Turkey is also a very strong voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-luksic/regardless-of-our-ambitions-to-become-part-of-the-e-u-we-have-to-keep/) [Igor Luksic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-luksic/) > [It's all about salsa with grain chips, tofu, turkey slices, hummus, and coconut water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/it-s-all-about-salsa-with-grain-chips-tofu-turkey-slices-hummus-and/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [Erdogan wants a caliphate. We Kurds are in his way. Erdogan can't stop us politically, so he is denouncing us as terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selahattin-demirtas/erdogan-wants-a-caliphate-we-kurds-are-in-his-way-erdogan-can-t-stop/) [Selahattin Demirtas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selahattin-demirtas/) ## More by Burhan Sonmez > [Istanbul is divided by time, not space. The first Istanbul is the Istanbul of the past. A long time ago, during the empire, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/istanbul-is-divided-by-time-not-space-the-first-istanbul-is-the/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [People feel that the beauty of the Istanbul is something we used to have in the past or something we will have in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/people-feel-that-the-beauty-of-the-istanbul-is-something-we-used-to/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Turkish society is divided not only culturally but also politically. You're either conservative or progressive. Islamist or secular. Right wing or left wing. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/turkish-society-is-divided-not-only-culturally-but-also-politically/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Some people are like a defeated warrior: they accept the defeat, go to work, go back home, watch TV silently. That is like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/some-people-are-like-a-defeated-warrior-they-accept-the-defeat-go-to/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Laughter is something we have against oppression and oppressive people. Dictators hate people who laugh at them. It's easy for them to destroy people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/laughter-is-something-we-have-against-oppression-and-oppressive/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [I've written some short stories about my personal experience, but it's not something you can use everywhere. Every novel, every work of fiction, needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/i-ve-written-some-short-stories-about-my-personal-experience-but-it-s/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [We are not in prison so we are free and happy? No. We're in a different kind of prison in this life. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/we-are-not-in-prison-so-we-are-free-and-happy-no-we-re-in-a-different/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Turkey are the independent people. We are our own nation in this world - a nation of writers, journalists, artists, moviemakers, and academics. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/turkey-are-the-independent-people-we-are-our-own-nation-in-this-world/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Someone might say about a person, "Oh, they are a 'Westerner." But who are Westerners? Greek, Bulgarian, German, English, Scandinavian, Spanish, American, Latin. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/someone-might-say-about-a-person-oh-they-are-a-westerner-but-who-are/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Democracy is to have different ideas, even extreme ones. In democracy there is space for all of them and bridges to connect them. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/democracy-is-to-have-different-ideas-even-extreme-ones-in-democracy/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [It's a bit questionable whether Turkey is a model country or not, since our government is supporting ISIS in Syria, since there are legislations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/it-s-a-bit-questionable-whether-turkey-is-a-model-country-or-not/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Syrian people have right to fight for democracy and freedom in their country but they don't need the penetration of foreign elements, fundamentalist ideologies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/syrian-people-have-right-to-fight-for-democracy-and-freedom-in-their/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > ["Culture" is a new phenomenon, I believe. Culture is the new religion. People treat you based upon your culture. You are pushed to describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/culture-is-a-new-phenomenon-i-believe-culture-is-the-new-religion/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [I believe Tunisia and Egypt should look to Turkey and see what not to do. Turkey seems to be a secular and democratic country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/i-believe-tunisia-and-egypt-should-look-to-turkey-and-see-what-not-to/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [When you go from one part of the Turkish community to another, it's like you're moving from one century to another. People look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/when-you-go-from-one-part-of-the-turkish-community-to-another-it-s/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) [Explore all 25 Burhan Sonmez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. 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Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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