On February 8, 2016, Nişantaşı University reportedly terminated the contracts of six scholars in connection with their having signed a petition calling on the government to end its crackdowns targeting Kurdish rebels in the southeastern part of the country.
The scholars were: Dr. Melih Kırlıdoğ, head of the department of management information systems; Dr. Selim Eyüpoğlu, a professor in the department of cinema and television; Dr. Muzaffer Kaya, an assistant professor in the department of social services; Dr. Çetin Gürer, an assistant professor in the department of sociology; Dr. Nil Mutluer, head of the department of sociology; and Dr. Dilşa Deniz an assistant professor in the department of sociology.
The petition, signed by 1128 scholars from 89 Turkish universities, as well as more than 300 scholars from outside the country, demands an end to fighting between Turkish forces and members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).  It accuses that the government of the “deliberate massacre and deportation” of civilians, and calls on the government to allow independent observers into the region, end curfews, and renew peace efforts. 
Following the publication of the petition on January 11, 2016, public authorities placed all of its 1128 Turkish signatories under investigation.  Since that time, many of the scholars who signed the petition have reportedly faced criminal, as well as professional retaliation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about professional retaliation against scholars in response to the nonviolent exercise of the rights to academic freedom, free expression and free association, conduct that is expressly protected under international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Turkey is a party.  Where they are a part of a widespread pattern, such incidents have a profoundly chilling effect on academic freedom, undermine democratic society generally, and may represent a grave threat to higher education on a national scale.  State and university authorities have an obligation to comply with internationally recognized standards of academic freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of association, as well as due process and fair trial.
This is an update to an earlier report.  To view, please click here
Sources
http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/171935-nisantasi-university-discharges-6-signatory-academics?
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/nisantasi-universitesi-6-akademisyenin-gorevine-son-verdi-40052261

http://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2016/02/09/nisantasi-universitesi-o-akademisyenlerin-isine-son-verdi