In my view, you misrepresent aspects of the problems confronting scientists in Turkey (Nature 542, 286–288; 2017). As a Turkish scientist working abroad, I contend that Turkey's government is using its former political ally, the Gülen movement, as a scapegoat to further its own ends.

For example, you suggest that the national research-funding agency TÜBİTAK was “infiltrated” by supporters of the exiled preacher Fethullah Gülen. However, the accused are ordinary Turkish citizens who happen variously to sympathize with few, some or all of Gülen's teachings and, as normal citizens, are naturally distributed across workplaces in Turkey — including in academia, the military and government offices.

You also imply that the Gülen movement may have orchestrated the coup attempt on 15 July last year. However, sceptics like me are still waiting for an independent investigation into what happened that day and who was to blame. If some people have committed a crime, then it should be those individuals who pay the price, not the tens of thousands who have been sacked and/or imprisoned.