Transnational Pathologization of Political Dissidents in Turkey’s 1980 Coup

• In Event: Crime, Law and Deviance Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 10: Politics & Capitalism

Abstract

This study investigates allegations against Turkish neuropsychiatrist Prof. Turan İtil, focusing on his purported psychiatric surveys and unauthorized drug testing on political prisoners during the 1980 military coup in Turkey. Although Prof. İtil is recognized internationally for his contributions to EEG research and neuropharmacology, serious accusations have been raised against him in Turkey, particularly regarding the use of non-consensual drug trials involving substances not approved in countries such as the U.S., Canada, and across Europe at the time. Drawing on eight in-depth interviews with former detainees, journalists, psychologists, and human rights advocates, the research explores how İtil, despite credible allegations of unethical drug testing and the pathologization of leftist dissidents, retained professional legitimacy within global scientific circles. This research asks: How has İtil maintained his professional reputation despite these allegations? Why have such serious concerns received limited scrutiny? And what broader lessons can this case offer about institutional complicity and accountability? Grounded in criminology, historical sociology, and medical sociology, the study engages both the general literature on sociobiology and case-specific sources. It explores the persistence of sociobiological thinking: Why does it remain influential, and how does it intersect with state power and political repression? Simultaneously, it addresses how to ethically document and present the findings of such sensitive histories and asks what language and frameworks are appropriate for responsibly reporting human rights violations within medical and legal institutions.

Author

• Ekim Kiliç, CUNY-Graduate Center