Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:26 PM

rug (47,243 posts)

Turkey's science state council halts publication of evolution books

Monday,January 14 2013
ISTANBUL

The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) has put a stop to the publication and sale of all books in its archives that support the theory of evolution, daily Radikal has reported.

The evolutionist books, previously available through TÜBİTAK's Popular Science Publications’ List, will no longer be provided by the council.

The books have long been listed as “out of stock” on TÜBİTAK's website, but their further publication are now slated to be stopped permanently.

Books by Richard Dawkins, Alan Moorehead, Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Levontin and James Watson are all included in the list of books that will no longer be available to the Turkish readers.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-council-of-state-halts-publication-of-evolution-books.aspx?pageID=238&nid=39047&NewsCa%2FtID=374#.UPQr1wBl5c

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12 replies	Author	Time	Post
Turkey's science state council halts publication of evolution books (Original post)	rug	Jan 2013	OP
Bad news. I hate to see this happening in Turkey and hope there is some	cbayer	Jan 2013	#1
I'm trying to find out why this happened.	rug	Jan 2013	#2
I thought I had read previously about this group taking some pretty	cbayer	Jan 2013	#3
Here's an article from, I think, 2009.	rug	Jan 2013	#5
It's all part of the plan by the current government, slow and steady	Leontius	Jan 2013	#4
You may have found it.	rug	Jan 2013	#6
Piglet? They go too far. n/t	dimbear	Jan 2013	#7
LOL!	Adsos Letter	Jan 2013	#8
The AKP was only able to gain control of Turkey after changing	Leontius	Jan 2013	#12
Is that something you support, erosion of the secular state?	cleanhippie	Jan 2013	#11
It seems to have been building over time	muriel_volestrangler	Jan 2013	#9
Seems Turkey's historical role as a comparatively secular state is gradually eroding.	pinto	Jan 2013	#10

Response to rug (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:28 PM

cbayer (120,009 posts)

1. Bad news. I hate to see this happening in Turkey and hope there is some

significant pushback.

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Response to cbayer (Reply #1)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:30 PM

rug (47,243 posts)

2. I'm trying to find out why this happened.

This desn't happen in a vacuum.

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Response to rug (Reply #2)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:42 PM

cbayer (120,009 posts)

3. I thought I had read previously about this group taking some pretty

agressive actions.

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Response to cbayer (Reply #3)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:50 PM

rug (47,243 posts)

5. Here's an article from, I think, 2009.

"Premier science council slammed for Darwin censor"

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11189047.asp

It doesn't really clear it up. I can't imaging this institute doesn't accept evolution. But there's nothing in there about bowing to religious pressure either. Although there is this in Britain: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/debate-on-islam-and-evolution-has-to-be-called-off-after-revolt-by-student-societies-8418022.html

Curious. If I find an answer I'll post it.

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Response to rug (Reply #2)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:46 PM

Leontius (848 posts)

4. It's all part of the plan by the current government, slow and steady

erosion of the secular state founded by K. Attaturk.

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Response to Leontius (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 07:54 PM

rug (47,243 posts)

6. You may have found it.

In Erdogan’s Turkey, Censorship Finds Fertile Ground

By: Sibel Utku Bila for Al-Monitor. posted on January 13.

ANKARA — The zeal of Turkish censorship seems to know no limits. It has recently set a new landmark with a bid to censor John Steinbeck’s classic, "Of Mice and Men," on grounds of “immorality.” The controversy raised fresh misgivings over freedom of expression in Turkey, landing the American author in a crowded club of victims, ranging from Chuck Palahniuk and John Lennon to The Simpsons and Piglet.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/turkey-censorship-steinbeck.html

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Response to rug (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 10:30 PM

dimbear (5,112 posts)

7. Piglet? They go too far. n/t

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Response to dimbear (Reply #7)

Tue Jan 15, 2013, 02:48 AM

Adsos Letter (13,984 posts)

8. LOL!

Ah...sorry...you caught me off guard.

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Response to rug (Reply #6)

Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:27 PM

Leontius (848 posts)

12. The AKP was only able to gain control of Turkey after changing

their name and toning down on their religious rhetoric and packaging themselves as really a more moderate party with a more progressive social program than the former government which had the backing of the Turkish military who have claimed to be the protector of a secular society. The Army has on past occasions stepped in to remove governments they thought were becoming too 'religious' and had moved too far from Ataturk's vision of Turkey.

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Response to Leontius (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 15, 2013, 12:50 PM

cleanhippie (14,479 posts)