Fulya Pinarş
Appearances
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
We didn't just wake up one morning in an authoritarian system. Of course, it happened very gradually.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
Newspapers were taken over or shut down. Journalists were imprisoned or exiled. Even one of my older sisters, who is a journalist, she lost her job.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
And it was taken over by a pro-government corporation after it revealed an arms deal that Turkey made. And soon after, many critical journalists were basically pushed out of other newspapers too. So this wasn't just about one newspaper. It was a part of basically a broader pattern of media consolidation and silencing people.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
So many of my professors, mentors, colleagues were criminalized while I was still there just for advocating for peace or labor rights or unionization rights. So this wasn't really abstract for me. These were the people who shaped me, who taught me how to think and express myself. And it became clear that I couldn't build a future in Turkey without fearing for my safety or freedom.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
So I'm trying to be more careful. You know, at the end of the semester, students usually provide feedback about professors and then your promotion depends on that.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
No, I didn't see that coming, honestly. And this was actually the reason why I came to the United States.
Up First from NPR
Is America becoming an autocracy?
I feel quite fragile because I feel like I can't work freely here. It just feels like I'm stuck here.