The Turkish Psychologists Association (TPD) has exposed the blatant double standards of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA). While the EFPA cites “political neutrality” regarding Israel’s military aggression in the Middle East, its previous expulsion of Russia over the Ukraine conflict reveals a deeply rooted selective morality within Western-centric scientific institutions.
As the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East escalates with Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, the occupation of Lebanon, and direct attacks on Iran, the silence of international professional bodies has sparked a major ethical debate. The Turkish Psychologists Association (TPD) recently released its correspondence with the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA), shedding light on how “scientific ethics” are being applied selectively based on geopolitical interests.
TPD’s Call: Against War Crimes and “Epistemicide”
On April 8, the TPD Board of Directors sent an urgent appeal to the EFPA, urging the federation to take a decisive stand against the escalating violence in the region. In the letter, the TPD documented the horrific psychological and physical toll of the conflict, labeling the current situation as a form of “collective psychological terror.”
The TPD specifically invited the EFPA to:
- Strongly condemn Israel’s war crimes and the destruction of civilian infrastructure across the region.
- Demand the immediate repeal of the execution law against Palestinians, which violates the most fundamental right to life.
- Accelerate advocacy efforts before European institutions and the United Nations to halt regional destruction.
- Establish a collective solidarity and recovery plan for the deep psychological devastation caused by the war.
The association also warned that the systematic targeting of universities, schools, and libraries constitutes “Epistemicide” -the deliberate destruction of a society’s knowledge and intellectual future.
The EFPA’s Defense: “Geographical Remit” and “Neutrality”
The response from EFPA Executive Director Isane Aparicio avoided any direct condemnation of the violence. The Federation claimed that its advocacy and communication activities are strictly limited to the geographical borders defined by the Council of Europe.
Furthermore, the EFPA stated it is “not engaged in activism or political positioning” and, therefore, would not issue any statements regarding the war crimes in the Middle East. Instead, the federation suggested it would limit its contribution to “scientific debates” on general issues like migration and democracy, effectively distancing itself from the immediate humanitarian catastrophe.
The Russia Precedent: A Clear Double Standard
The TPD Board was quick to point out the blatant hypocrisy in the EFPA’s supposedly “apolitical” stance. The Board reminded the international community that in 2022, the same federation took a swift and highly political action by expelling the Russian Psychological Society following the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the TPD Board, this proves that the EFPA is indeed capable of taking a political stance when it aligns with Western geopolitical agendas. The sudden retreat into “geographical remit” and “neutrality” when faced with Israeli war crimes was characterized by the TPD as a collapse of the universal ethical values of the psychology profession.
TPD: Moving Forward with Regional Solidarity
In a public statement following the correspondence, the Turkish Psychologists Association declared the EFPA’s response unacceptable. The TPD emphasized that “remaining silent allows for the legitimization of these crimes.”
Refusing to be deterred by the EFPA’s rejection, the TPD announced it would now initiate direct communication with individual member associations across Europe to bypass the federation’s central inaction. “As the Turkish psychology community, we salute the peoples of the region in solidarity,” the TPD stated, reaffirming its commitment to peace, justice, and the ethical responsibility of psychological science.