New lawsuit against 97 students at Boğaziçi University

A lawsuit has been filed against 97 students who were detained during the protests against the appointment of a trustee rector to Boğaziçi University.

A new lawsuit has been filed against Boğaziçi University students who participated in protests against the trustee rector Melih Bulu, who was appointed rector by president Erdoğan of the ruling AKP.

An indictment has been prepared against 97 students who were detained after the police intervention on 1 February. In the 75-page indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the students were accused of "violating the Law no. 2911 by attending unlawful meetings and marches unarmed and refusing to disperse by themselves despite warnings".

The protests against the "trustee-rector" continued in front of Boğaziçi University's South Campus in Istanbul on February 1, 2021. Several students were detained in Nisbetiye and Bebek areas in the vicinity of the school.

Bianet news site reported that the Istanbul 32nd Penal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment which referred to a flag made of cloth, placards and banners as "evidence." The first hearing of the trial has not yet been specified.

108 people who were taken into custody on February 1 were released after giving their statements. As there was an ongoing case against 10 of the 108 people on the same charge and one of them was younger than 18, their files were separated from the others, Bianet said.

The lawsuit against the other 97 people has been filed at the Istanbul 32nd Penal Court of First Instance, it added.

The indictment said, "Though the Public Health Boards of Beşiktaş and Sarıyer and the Governor's Office banned protests and events due to COVID-19, students gathered for the press statement," Bianet said.