Jamia to give honorary doctorate to Turkish President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a two-day tour to India, will be presented with an honorary doctorate degree at Jamia Milia Islamia on Monday.

"Jamia regularly organises student exchange programmes with Turkey. Around 30 students have visited the country, so far, and this event will further strengthen our educational ties," a varsity official said.

Jamia is the only institute in the country that provides academic courses in Turkish language. "We have diploma and advanced diploma courses in the language," the official said.

A section of students and alumni, however, expressed dismay over Erdogan's visit, claiming that he was involved in "human rights violation" against civilians in Turkey. They had also started an online campaign, appealing to the varsity to cancel Erdogan's invte.

"He has won a fraudulent plebiscite in order to crown himself an unchallenged dictator of Turkey. He has stifled dissent, cracked down on the rights of working people, women, and minorities in Turkey," the petition read.

The university officials, however, said: "Erdogan's visit is a matter of honour for Jamia. A section of students is unnecessarily trying to disrupt the event."

TURKEY CONNECT

• Jamia is the only institute in the country that provides academic courses in Turkish language.
   
• “We have diploma and advanced diploma courses in the language,” an official said.