Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) reveals a harrowing pattern where the Turkish government systematically violates the right to education in Turkey, targeting not just dissidents but their children. From revoked scholarships and blacklisted schools to psychological trauma in exile, this form of repression leaves deep scars that persist across generations.
The Aftermath of the 2016 Purge: A Systematic Crackdown
Following the attempted coup in 2016, Turkish authorities implemented widespread purges through emergency decrees. Over 130,000 public sector workers, including educators, were dismissed without judicial review, as documented by AST’s reports and survivor testimonies. The scale of the purge reshaped the educational landscape. Teachers, professors, administrators, and school personnel lost their jobs overnight. Many were banned from employment, blacklisted in government databases, and subjected to travel restrictions, cutting off their access to both domestic and international academic opportunities.
Entire institutions were shuttered under the accusation of "affiliation with terrorism." Families associated—by blood or belief—with individuals targeted during the purges found themselves ostracized. Children became invisible victims, punished not for their actions but their lineage.
In addition to the mass dismissals, AST documentation highlights the Turkish state’s systematic strategy of intimidation and bureaucratic exclusion. Enrollment applications from children of purged families were often rejected without explanation. Parents were unable to transfer their children to new schools due to restrictions on national identity numbers, and some students were forced to abandon education entirely.
The state’s use of emergency decrees and security labels allowed for extrajudicial discrimination, creating a chilling effect across the country’s educational institutions. This strategy was not an unintended consequence—it was a deliberate act of repression.
How Children Became Collateral Damage
Despite being innocent of any charges, children of purged families have faced systemic exclusion from education:
-
School admissions revoked without justification
-
Scholarships cancelled arbitrarily
-
Academic records erased, impeding future enrollment
-
Targeted surveillance and discrimination within classrooms
This punishment-by-proxy mechanism violates fundamental rights and erodes the principles of equal access to education.
1. Revoked Admissions and Arbitrary School Closures
Many children were barred from public and private institutions solely due to familial ties. Over 600 private schools and 15 universities were shut down—primarily those allegedly affiliated with the Gülen movement. These closures did not provide students or their families with avenues to transfer or appeal.
Parents report that even schools unaffiliated with the purges hesitated to accept students from blacklisted families, fearing state retribution. Some children were forced into long-term isolation or low-quality institutions ill-equipped to support their educational needs.
(Source: AST blog post "Being the Other Child in Turkey")
2. Loss of Scholarships
Government-funded and international scholarships were rescinded without due process. Students accepted to prestigious universities lost their financial aid overnight. According to AST’s compiled testimonies, many of these decisions were never communicated officially, making appeals impossible.
The withdrawal of scholarships disproportionately affected high-performing students from modest backgrounds, cutting off their only path to higher education.
(Source: AST blog post "Education Under Pressure")
3. Expunged Academic Histories
When entire institutions were closed, tens of thousands of students lost access to their records. Diplomas became invalid. Transcripts disappeared. Many universities refused to recognize credits earned at shuttered institutions. This has left students in a state of academic statelessness, unable to continue studies or prove past achievements.
(Source: AST blog post "Education Under Pressure")
4. Psychological Harm and Bullying
Beyond institutional exclusion, children experienced intense psychological trauma. Labelled as "terrorists’ children" by classmates or even educators, many suffered severe anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Parents reported that their children were bullied by peers, subjected to degrading language, or excluded from group activities. The long-term effects include trust issues, academic disengagement, and emotional instability.
(Source: AST blog post "Being the Other Child in Turkey")
5. Education in Exile: A New Set of Barriers
For families who fled Turkey, education did not become any easier. Children faced host country challenges like:
-
Language barriers that delayed integration
-
Lack of recognized documentation, including birth certificates or previous academic records
-
Limited access to mental health services for trauma processing
Many children spent months or years out of school entirely. In some cases, older students were forced to work to support their families, abandoning education altogether.
(Source: AST blog post "Being the Other Child in Turkey")
The Systemic Nature of Educational Apartheid
AST classifies these repressive practices as a form of educational apartheid—where the state deliberately targets a population group by restricting access to learning opportunities.
International Legal Framework and Turkey’s Obligations
The right to education is enshrined in:
-
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees free and compulsory elementary education and access to higher education based on merit.
-
Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), obligating states to ensure the full realization of the right to education without discrimination.
-
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), particularly Articles 28 and 29, which require states to make education accessible to all and to promote the development of respect for human rights and freedoms.
Turkey is a party to all these treaties, yet its policies of exclusion and punishment toward the children of dissidents violate not only the spirit but the letter of these binding agreements. The institutionalization of such discriminatory practices—documented extensively by AST—reflects a deliberate state policy of marginalization and political retaliation.
AST’s Role in Advocacy and Documentation
Advocates of Silenced Turkey works across multiple fronts:
✅ Documentation and Reporting
AST collects firsthand testimonies, legal evidence, and statistical data about violations. These efforts are reflected in their public reports and blog series, which form part of AST’s mission to build a historical archive of repression and resistance.
✅ International Legal Submissions
AST submits these findings to bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteurs, and the European Court of Human Rights, contributing to broader global pressure on Turkish authorities.
✅ Support Networks for Affected Families
In exile, AST helps affected families navigate legal, educational, and psychological systems by linking them to NGOs, diaspora educators, and local service providers.
✅ Awareness Campaigns
From detailed reports to multimedia storytelling, AST engages the public with campaigns that humanize the crisis and spotlight survivor voices. Their webinars and social media activism foster international solidarity.
A Generation at Risk
The long-term consequences are devastating:
-
Interrupted learning and delayed professional development
-
Chronic psychological distress from trauma and marginalization
-
Erosion of trust in institutions meant to protect children
Why It Matters
When a state uses education as a weapon, it dismantles the future. Denying a child the right to learn based on their family’s beliefs is not just unjust—it’s a strategy to extinguish entire generations of dissent.
Alt text: Young girl covers her face in fear, symbolizing the hidden impact on exiled children, as reported by AST
The Right to Education in Turkey Must Be Defended
Educational repression is one of the most silent yet destructive forms of political punishment. Through its research, testimony collection, international advocacy, and support for displaced families, Advocates of Silenced Turkey continues to challenge this systemic denial of basic human rights. By shining a light on these violations and amplifying survivor stories, AST ensures that the next generation is not lost to silence, and that international legal frameworks are not rendered meaningless.
🟡 Stay informed and explore survivor stories at silencedturkey.org
FAQs
What is AST?
AST (Advocates of Silenced Turkey) is a nonprofit organization that documents and advocates against human rights violations in Turkey.
How does AST gather its data on educational repression?
AST collects firsthand accounts, legal documents, and data through interviews, international reporting, and field research. https://silencedturkey.org/the-education-rights-of-persecuted-families/
Are these educational denials legally challenged?
Some cases are brought to international human rights bodies, but many victims avoid domestic courts due to lack of trust or fear of retaliation.
Where can I read personal stories of affected families?
Visit AST’s archive at https://silencedturkey.org/being-the-other-child-in-turkey
Comments
0 comment