Saadet Party reports decline in Turkish academic freedom

The Saadet Party has issued reports calling for the protection of academic freedom and institutional autonomy in Turkish universities. The party emphasized that higher education institutions should serve as spaces for knowledge production and critical thinking rather than becoming tools for political interests.

Citing V-Dem data, the party highlighted a significant decline in academic freedom in Turkey. According to the report, the Academic Freedom Index score dropped from 0.278 in 2015 to 0.088 in 2025, representing an approximate 68% decrease. Similar declines were noted in research and teaching freedom, as well as academic and cultural expression freedom, which saw a decline of roughly 73%.

The party advocates for a system based on merit, transparency, and accountability. They argue that for science to flourish and for the country to find lasting solutions to its problems, academics must be able to choose research topics based on scientific criteria and share their findings without political interference.