The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is profoundly concerned by the recent events in Turkey, and by the subsequent news that the national education system and the universities might be heavily affected by the post-coup measures. The IAU regrets that the current situation in Turkey has already led to the cancellation of the 41st Scientific Assembly of COSPAR (the COmmittee for SPace Research) in Istanbul, an event the IAU was due to co-sponsor. Despite the local organisers’ readiness to continue with the organisation, the COSPAR President took the decision that it was safer to cancel it.

The IAU follows the regulations of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and concurs with the actions undertaken by their Standing Committee on Freedom in the Conduct of Science on non-discrimination and universality of science. In particular it opposes any discrimination based on factors such as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, and political or other opinion.

The IAU hopes that Turkey will maintain the integrity of its educational system, with particular emphasis on that of the astronomical research groups. Everyone at the IAU looks forward to the restoration of normal conditions as soon as possible, for the continued benefit of the astronomical community at large, the IAU and its Turkish collaborators.

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The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 10 000 professional astronomers from almost 100 countries. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

Piero Benvenuti
General Secretary, International Astronomical Union
Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58
Email: iau-general.secretary@iap.fr

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 761
Cell: +49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars@eso.org