Military intelligence monitors activities of İstanbul University

The report examines the university's activities since Mesut Parlak was appointed the new rector after Kemal Alemdaroğlu, who is currently standing trial on charges of being a leader of Ergenekon, was removed from office. Prepared by Maj. Gen. Uğur Uzal, serving at the First Army Command, in June 25, 2005 the report labels many academics including Parlak as “of Kurdish origin,” “sympathizers of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party],” “separatist,” “secessionist” or “former leftist militant.”

It also notes in detail how the university management recruited people or launched disciplinary investigations or entered tenders or conducted graduation ceremonies off campus.

It was Professor Sevil Atasoy, former head of the Forensic Medicine Institute for 18 years, who presented the names to Gen. Uzal.

The report, “To military intelligence units: Preliminary report on activities at İstanbul University directed at the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] and pro-PKK activities aiming at overthrowing Turkey's unity and Kurdish separatist movements,” was presented on Aug. 6 of last year to the prosecutors of the Ergenekon investigation, who had demanded from the General Staff whether they had clues on the existence of such a report.

The report, which carries a “top secret” designation, claims that with Alemdaroğlu's departure, the university has been restructured toward a pro-Kurdish stance. Among the academics who have been reported to military intelligence is former Forensic Medicine Council President Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who has been given co-plaintiff status due to the indirect harm caused by Ergenekon's actions.

The report claims that academics Fincancı and Sermet Koç, who had prepared a project called “Independent Court Expertise in the Prevention of Torture,” have been involved in radical left and separatist activities.

Among the other allegations of the report is that Parlak has been singled out as “the central pillar of the mafia” at the university. The report says that Parlak allows graduation ceremonies to take place at private locations to allow some female university graduates to wear their headscarves. The report also notes that there are female students wearing headscarves on the university campus.

The report also says that Parlak's family tree should be examined closely to reveal his “Kurdish ties.” Another remark about appointees made by Parlak ties the case to the Kurdish issue again. The report says that “Tahsin Yeşildere, who is of Kurdish origin and is a PKK supporter, was appointed to an influential position in the veterinary department.”