18 academics detained, over 130 face criminal charges amid accusations by president of 'terrorist propaganda'

Turkish police have detained at least 18 academics who signed a petition calling for an end to military operations in southeastern Anatolia, while more than 130 academics are facing criminal charges. The moves come just days after President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an slammed the signatories for making "terrorist propaganda."

Universities and prosecutor's offices across the country started to launch probes into some of the 1,128 local and international academics and intellectuals who fall within the state's jurisdiction, arguing that the petition went beyond the limits of academic freedoms. 

In a dawn operation in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on Jan. 15, police raided the houses of 19 academics and detained 15. Provincial police head Levent Yar?mel told the press a detention warrant had been issued for a total of 21 academics in the city. 

In the northwestern province of Bursa, meanwhile, three academics were also detained, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking in Sultanahmet after Friday prayers on Jan. 15, President Erdo?an again denounced the signatories of the document, who included U.S. philosopher Noam Chomsky, saying that "those who do not want to take part in politics in parliament should dig trenches or go to the mountains."

"Our nation should see who is who. Being a professor does not make someone an intellectual. These are the darkest of people. They are cruel people, because those who ally with cruelty are themselves cruel," Erdo?an said on Jan. 15, referring to the detention of academics.

Meanwhile, the Anatolian, Istanbul and Bak?rköy chief public prosecutors also launched investigations against at least 123 academics employed by universities in Istanbul. Anadolu initiated probes on 82 academics and Bak...