Turkish university withdraws decision to suspend doctors critical of Afrin op
Gülseven ÖZKAN - ISTANBUL
Istanbul University has withdrawn its decision to suspend Turkish Medical Association (TTB) head Prof. Dr. Raşit Tükel and another top member, who were detained after denouncing Ankara’s ongoing military operation in Afrin and then released on Feb. 5.
The university previously decided to suspend both Tükel and Prof. Dr. Taner Gören for three months due to a statement by the TTB regarding the operation. With the withdrawal of the decision, they can return to work on Feb. 12.
The TTB had published a statement with the headline, “War is a matter of public health,” warning that conflicts lead to “irreparable problems” and ended its declaration with the words, “No to war, peace right now.”
Police detained all 11 members of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) central council on Jan. 30. On Feb. 2, three of the members were released with judicial control orders.
A TTB official said eight members, including Tükel, were released under the same conditions on Feb. 5 after giving statements to an Ankara prosecutor.
Tükel and 10 other members of the TTB were accused of “treason” by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the statement.
Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to support Syrian rebels with ground troops and air strikes against Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin.
