Students attack anti-Darwinism fossil exhibition in Turkey

BURSA - Anatolia News Agency

A group of students in Bursa vandalized pieces on display at a fossil exhibition at Uludağ University. People who damaged the artifacts support Darwinism and are leftists, say officials. AA photo

A group of 30 students in Bursa have allegedly vandalized a fossil exhibition at Uludağ University, beating three security guards, breaking into the exhibition and damaging the fossils.

The students recorded the attack, shouting slogans and taking photos with the damaged fossils, which they claim are fake. The exhibit has been organized by an anti-evolution group that claims the fossils on display prove that life forms have not changed over thousands of years, while others doubt the authenticity of the fossils.

Police have analyzed the area and taken fingerprints. Speaking to Anatolia news agency, exhibition official Hakan İyihuylu said: “[On Dec. 21] we opened this exhibition. At noon a group of students came, shouting leftist political slogans. They did not even talk to us. They just entered the exhibition and damaged the pieces. People who damaged the artifacts are supporting Darwinism and are leftists. They call themselves volunteers.”

Noting that all the fossils have been certified as real, İyihuylu said the team is not publicly displaying the fossils due to security reasons despite their wish to do so.

The police are still trying to locate the assailants.