Science and belief

At home and abroad many people condemned as a blatant violation of freedom of thought and independence of the "Science and Technology," or "Bilim ve Teknik," scientific magazine published by Tübitak when after the publication of the March edition of the prestigious scientific journal some 16 pages of it marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the father of the evolution theory were scrapped, the photograph of Darwin was removed from the cover and the chief editor objecting to the development was removed from her position.

What the Science and Technology journal did was indeed nothing further than what such magazines worldwide were doing nowadays as it has been 200 years since Darwin, author of the "Origin of Species," was born and in commemoration of Darwin’s birth this year was declared International Darwin Year. There was nothing exceptional in what Science and Technology did in putting Darwin’s photo on its cover and allocating several pages on his life story and the evolution theory. Furthermore, it was not the first time that Science and Technology was allocating some pages to Darwin or to his theory.

Yet, neither today’s Turkey is any longer the Turkey we were accustomed to nor the Tübitak was the Tübitak we knew of. Ever since the Islamist Justice and Development Party, or AKP, came to power, like all other government agencies, gradually Tübitak was occupied with people with almond moustaches on their faces or in their heads, scientific independence was brushed aside and independent-minded people employed there were encouraged to leave.

Raşit Gürdilek, for example, was the editor of the journal for many years. Gürdilek, a former managing editor of the Daily News, had strong ideas about independence of the journal. Had briefed the board of Tübitak several times that not only the journal he headed, but all such journals were independent and he could stay on as editor as long as its independence was not limited. In April last year, Gürdilek was asked to become an "adviser" to the Tübitak board and he felt compelled to ask for his retirement. He was succeeded by Ms Çiğdem Atakuman.

Ms. Atakuman apparently worked harmoniously for some time with the Tübitak board while in the mean time several members of the editorial team of the Science and Technology journal were pushed aside, encouraged to resign and the journal was started to be produced with a "second" but "unofficial" team. There was a limit, apparently, to the collaboration of Ms. Atakuman and she lost her job as well when she decided to run the Darwin photo on the cover and allocate some 16 pages to his life story and the evolution theory.

Condemnation

Italian Senate Vice Speaker Emma Banino in a written statement asked whether the EU and European bodies would not condemn this blatant violation of freedom of thought and scientific independence. Two Italian European deputies have tabled a motion at the European Parliament and asked the European Commission to raise this very serious issue "incompatible with European norms" with Turkish officials and "evaluate the consequences of the violation of fundamental rights in this case (the right to freedom of expression and freedom of scientific research) on the cooperation between Turkey and the EU on scientific issues?"

Furthermore, the deputies rightly asked the commission to explain how the antiscientific attitude Tübitak has shown in this case would affect the cooperation of the EU with Tübitak.

Indeed, there is no surprise in what’s happening at Tübitak. If and when politics is allowed to enter a scientific agency, that’s what may happen. According what he has said, during Gürdilek’s many years as editor the journal run articles about Darwin and his theory at least eight to ten times. There was no problem at the time. Now, we have AKP censorship in action! AKP is butchering scientific independence when science runs contrary to its beliefs!