Move Night + Q&A: Students as Spies

Thursday, March 21, 2023, 19:00 – 21:00 CET

During this movie night, we discovered the clandestine realm of Israeli intelligence gathering in Turkey, involving activities such as espionage, covert recordings, spy networks, and political intrigue. The movie was followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Mustafa Sezal, whose expertise spans Security issues, International Relations and Turkey.

About the Movie

In October 2021, Turkish authorities detained 15 individuals believed to be affiliated with Mossad, Israel's spy agency, in multiple cities. Later in December 2022, an additional 44 people were apprehended for allegedly sharing information with Mossad. 

Tamer Almisshal of Al Jazeera Arabic travels to Istanbul to delve into the backstory of these arrests, including how the suspects were identified and recruited by Mossad, as well as the months-long undercover operation by Turkish authorities to capture them.

Dr. Mustafa Ali Sezal

Mustafa Ali Sezal is a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at the Department of International Relations and International Organization. Currently, he is researching the European defence industry and effects of technology transfer as a researcher for the EIBURS-JEDI (Joint Effort for the Defence Industry) project. His doctoral research focused on the philosophical and genealogical development of critical security schools with an emphasis on emancipation. Dr Sezal recieved his PhD from the University of Groningen, a Master's degree in Security Studies from Aberystwyth University, Department of International Politics in Wales, and he holds a Bachelor degree in International Relations from Bilkent University in Turkey.