Academic freedom and international cooperation have been increasingly at risk in Turkey in the last years. University Deans, Professors and other scientists were forced to step down, a travel ban was imposed on many academics, and Turkish scientists working abroad were pressured to return to Turkey. Many journalists and newspaper editors have been detained and harassed, particularly since the coup attempt last year.

Dr. Özgür Mumcu, journalist with the “Alternative Nobel Prize”-awarded Cumhuriyet newspaper discussed with Antje Schlamm, Head of Section Scholarship Programmes East Central Europe, South East Europe, Turkey at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), how Universities, editors and journalists deal with these restrictions on and hindrance of their work.