Boğaziçi Protest Aftermath: 97 Detained, 6 Jailed, 1 Student Released as Fast-Tracked Indictment Sparks Outcry

Tensions escalated at Boğaziçi University following the announcement that Sosyal Doku Foundation President Nureddin Yıldız would speak at an event hosted by the Boğaziçi Islamic Studies Club. The planned visit prompted widespread student protests, culminating in a campus demonstration that ended with heavy police intervention and mass detentions.

On the evening of the protest, students gathered at the North Campus, where their peaceful march was blocked by private security and riot police. Journalists, including T24 correspondent Can Öztürk, were also caught in the police cordon during coverage.

97 Students Detained, 6 Arrested — 1 Released

A total of 97 students were detained, many handcuffed from behind, and taken to police custody after medical checks. Out of those detained, 6 students were formally arrested. One of them has since been released by the prosecutor’s order.

The legal proceedings have moved at unusual speed, raising questions about the motivations behind the crackdown.

No Evidence of Violence, Only Presence

Remzi Dokuzoğlu, a lawyer with the Lawyers’ Voice Initiative (ASİ), told Cumhuriyet that the indictment was prepared the very next day after the arrests and submitted to Istanbul’s 69th Criminal Court of First Instance.

“There is no evidence of violence. They’re being prosecuted solely for being present,” he stated.

Fifteen students are charged under:

• Article 32 of Law 2911 for “participating in an unlawful assembly and failing to disperse after a warning”

• Article 265 of the Turkish Penal Code for “resisting to prevent the execution of duty”

Dokuzoğlu emphasized that no physical resistance or aggression is documented in the case files—only visual identification from protest footage.

“They Want to Intimidate”

Calling the legal process a tool of intimidation, Dokuzoğlu condemned the political pressure behind the swift prosecution. He warned that this could be part of a broader strategy to silence dissent on university campuses.

“This isn’t about justice—it’s punishment. They’re targeting a few students from the crowd to intimidate the rest,” he said.

Though the court has not yet set a trial date, it is expected to do so within the 15-day legal timeframe.

The incident adds to growing concerns about freedom of expression, student rights, and judicial independence in Türkiye, especially following high-profile crackdowns on campus protests in recent years.