University of Oslo Human Rights Award Ceremony
Monday, Nov 13 2017 6:00 pm
This year, the University of Oslo’s Human Rights Award will be presented to professor Ishtar Gözaydin, an academic and researcher from Turkey who has made her mark as an active social commentator and human rights defender.
Professor Gözaydin founded the Turkish Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly with well-known intellectuals such as Murat Belge and Orhan Pamuk. This politically independent organization works for peace, democratization, political pluralism, rule of law and sustainable development.
Dr. Gözaydin was arrested in her home on December 19, 2016, with several former employees of Gediz University and charged with “membership in an armed terrorist organization.” Dr. Gözaydin was released in March 2017, but is in danger of being sentenced for supporting terrorism. It remains unclear whether or not she will be allowed to leave Turkey before her trial, which is scheduled to begin in January 2018.
The program for the award ceremony includes:
- Introduction by Svein Stølen, Rector of the University of Oslo
- Presentation of the 2017 UiO Human Rights Award to Ishtar Gözaydin by Inga Bostad, Director of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights
- Interview from Istanbul with Ishtar Gözaydin
- Scholars at Risk Free to Think 2017 launch
- Music by Trond Sagbakken, Gustav Rørmark, Balder Hella Mikkelsen, and Njord Kårason Fossnes
- Reception in Domus Bibliotheca