2021 Boğaziçi University protests
| 2021 Boğaziçi Üniversity protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Date | 4 January 2021 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Appointment of Melih Bulu as rector of Boğaziçi University | ||
| Goals |
| ||
| Methods | Demonstrations | ||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Detained | 36 people[6] | ||
The 2021 Boğaziçi Üniversity protests were demonstrations that started on 4 January against appointment of Melih Bulu by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as rector of Boğaziçi University, which is one of the top academic institutions in Turkey.
Background
Melih Bulu, who has ties to the ruling AKP, was appointed as rector with a presidential decree on 2 January 2021. Faculty members stated that this was the first rector chosen outside a university since 1980 coup d'état. The action was seen by students as a political movement and part of anti-democratic practices since 2016 coup d'état attempt.[7]
Protests
Hundreds of people participated in the protests on 4 January 2021. Some protestors regarded the appointment as the violation of "academic freedom and scientific autonomy, as well as the democratic values" of the university. Demonstrators also shouted slogans such as "Melih Bulu is not our rector" and "We don't want a state-appointed rector."[7][8]
One of university's buildings was captured by students who were able to enter the campus. Later, protestors clashed with the police as they tried to break a barricade in front of university entry. Security forces used pepper spray to disperse the demonstrators. Two students were detained in the course of protests.[8][9][10][11]
Reactions
The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu from the left-wing, main opposition party CHP supported the protests.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Yıldız Teknik, ODTÜ ve Galatasaray Üniversitesi öğrencilerinden 'Melih Bulu' tepkisi
- ^ Son dakika: Boğaziçi provokasyonunda gözaltına alınan kişi terör örgütü üyesi çıktı
- ^ Boğaziçi soruşturmasında yeni detaylar: Terör örgütleriyle irtibatlılar
- ^ Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Rektörü Melih Bulu protesto edildi!
- ^ Yılmaz Özdil, Boğaziçi Üniversitesi’ne atanan Melih Bulu tartışmalarını ve Süleyman Soylu'nun "PKK yardakçıları" ifadesini değerlendirdi
- ^ https://www.birgun.net/haber/bogazici-eylemlerine-yonelik-operasyonlar-suruyor-uzun-namlulu-silahlarla-ev-baskinlari-yapildi-329280
- ^ a b Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Turkey: Students protest against Erdogan-appointed university rector | DW | 05.01.2021". DW.COM. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ a b Staff, Reuters (4 January 2021). "Turkish police clash with students protesting Erdogan-appointed university head". Reuters. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
{{cite news}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Hundreds Protest In Istanbul Against New University Rector". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Students in Turkey Protest Rector Tapped to Head University".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Boğaziçi Üniversitesi'nde Melih Bulu protestosu: 'Kayyum istemiyoruz'". birgun.net (in Turkish). Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Ekrem İmamoğlu'ndan Boğaziçi Üniversitesi öğrencilerine destek". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 5 January 2021.