Detained at Boğaziçi University, two students arrested

* Photo: Boğaziçi Resistance Twitter page

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10 students were taken into custody at Boğaziçi University in İstanbul the other day (October 5) on the grounds that they joined the protests against Naci İnci, the appointed rector of the university.

Three students were released from detention after giving their statements at the police station. Held in detention at night, seven students were referred to the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan yesterday after the related formalities had been completed at the police station.

Interrogated at the prosecutor's office, four students were released on probation while three were referred to judgeship to be arrested.

The İstanbul Penal Judgeship of Peace on Duty has ruled that two students shall be arrested and one shall be released on probation.

Erdoğan targeted the students

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the 2021-2022 Higher Education Academic Year Opening Ceremony and targeted the students who have been protesting the appointed rector as "terrorists." Erdoğan briefly said:

"We are sadly following that some people are not troubled with appreciating what is done about higher education, as in the case of every other issue. I especially cannot accept a Turkey where students get on top of the rector's car and stamp there. Such students are not necessary for us.

"Your rector is inside the vehicle, you intercept him and then get on top of the vehicle and start stamping. There cannot be such a student. They must be terrorists who infiltrated universities at the most."

Statement by İstanbul Governor's Office

The İstanbul Governor's Office also made a statement about the detention of the students. The Office said, "On Monday, a group of around (60) students who gathered in front of the Rectorate of Boğaziçi University intercepted the official vehicle of University Rector Prof. Naci İnci, prevented it from proceeding by chanting slogans and one person got on top of the vehicle."

The Governor's Office announced that seven people, including the one who got on top of the vehicle, and three people who "resisted the personnel on duty" were taken into custody by the Provincial Security Directorate upon the instruction of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

"The investigation is ongoing," the statement added. (KÖ/SD)