SAR Press Release:

Scholars at Risk urges the Turkmen Government to revoke its decision to invalidate foreign higher education degrees

SAR-PR-04-05, June 1, 2004

New York, NY - Scholars at Risk, a network of international universities and colleges working to promote academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars worldwide, is extremely concerned about the deteriorating state of higher education in Turkmenistan and in particular the latest crackdown on scholars and professionals receiving degrees from institutions of higher education outside of Turkmenistan.

On June 1, 2004, Turkmenistan's Ministry of Education was to implement President Saparmurat Niyazov's order (Decree No. 126) to invalidate all higher education degrees received outside the country since 1993 and to dismiss all state workers holding such degrees. As more than 75% of the economy is state-owned, the number of people affected by this decree will be considerable, affecting primarily professional classes, including teachers, doctors and engineers.

While the Turkmen Government has said that the measure will strengthen the state by filtering out low-quality degree holders with substandard education, it appears that this measure is part of a broader effort to eliminate all foreign influences from academia and wider society and to alienate non-Turkmen, (including Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh and others), many of whom return to their homeland to pursue studies in higher education.

Scholars at Risk also is concerned about the approximate 5000 Turkmen students currently enrolled abroad. "We are worried that some students may be reluctant to complete their degrees, while others may choose to seek employment abroad rather than return home, which will further impoverish the country," said Robert Quinn, director of Scholars at Risk.

"Furthermore, for those scholars that do return home," said Quinn, "they are at an increased risk of escalating persecution." The Turkmen Government is extremely intolerant to dissent, and scholars deemed as critical of the government, particularly those examining political sensitive issues, such as public policy, law, human rights, or ethnic studies, for example, may be targeted for their work if deemed threatening. Quinn said, "We are concerned about an increasing number of cases of scholars from Turkmenistan experiencing harassment and threats of arrest and violence because their academic work is critical of government policy."

If these measures are carried out, they will contribute to the deterioration of higher education and also limit the ability of Turkmen citizens to access higher education. The US State Department's annual report on human rights, released in March, notes that no master's degrees or doctorates have been granted in Turkmenistan since 1998.

Scholars at Risk requests that letters, emails and faxes of appeal be sent as quickly as possible:

• expressing concern that the decision to invalidate all higher education degrees received outside the country since 1993 and to dismiss all state workers holding such degrees will contribute to the deterioration of higher education in Turkmenistan and limit the ability of Turkmen citizens to access higher education;
  
  
• reminding the government that the free exchange of ideas is one of the most basic values of higher education, and the freedom to travel is one of the most important ways of furthering education;
  
  
• respectfully urging the authorities to revoke the decision and to reinstate any employees whose degrees have been invalidated and who have been dismissed from their posts; and
  
  
• respectfully urging the authorities to undertake systemic reforms to improve the quality and integrity of the country's higher education institutions while maintaining its international human rights obligations.
  

SEND APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Saparmurat Niyazov
President of Turkmenistan
Presidential Administration
744000 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 35 51 12
Salutation: Your Excellency

SEND COPIES TO:

Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson
U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan
American Embassy
9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street)
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 744000
Fax: +993 12 39 26 14

His Excellency Meret B. Orazov
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
the United States of America
Embassy of Turkmenistan
2207 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: 202-588-1500
Fax: 202-588-0697

Scholars at Risk
c/o New York University
194 Mercer St. Rm 410
New York, NY USA
Tel: 212-998-2179
Fax 212-995-4402

Copy of Scholars at Risk letter of appeal sent to President Saparmurad Niyazov - 6/02/04 (PDF).

For more information, please contact Scholars at Risk at (212) 998 - 2179 or by email at

To view all Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom alerts, visit http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/letter_campaigns.html

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