Jamia Remains Divided as Erdogan Collects 40th Doctorate Degree

New Delhi: A day after the Turkish President was conferred with an honorary doctorate, the flutter around the decision by Jamia Milia Islamia University refuses to die down.

Erdogan was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the university on Monday afternoon.

Much before the ceremony, however, students on campus were contemplating online petitions and email campaigns against the decision.

Erdogan was conferred the degree amidst much fanfare. Jamia vice chancellor Professor Talat Ahmad read out the citation and declared the new programs and memorandums lined up to boost higher education. Jamia was the first university to start Turkish language and Literature Course in India in 2006-2007. The university will soon launch a post graduate program in Turkish language and Literature.

Erdogan, in his speech, advocated for India’s permanent spot in the United Nations Security Council and said that terrorism was to be fought collectively. “It is unfair to associate it with just one religion,” he added.

His words seem to hit the right chord with a certain section of the audience, who said the decision to confer the doctorate on the Turkish president was the government’s choice and there was no lack of support for it.

“How can Erdogan be a dictator when he just had a referendum? He was elected in the past and people have been voting for him. Why would they vote for someone who crushes their liberties?” said Dr Mohsin Ali, founder of the Turkish language and literature center.

Omair Anas, the research fellow from Indian Council for World Affairs, saw both sides to the “honor”.

“In 2011, Erdogan became the first high-profile figure to visit Somalia and raised awareness of the international community about the famine. Being honored for humanitarian diplomacy in regions like Somalia is very important. If any non-Muslim leader had done this, he would have received international acclaim, so why not Erdogan?” said Anas, adding that Turkey’s work in Somalia would be a good case study for humanitarian projects.