The Asociaciò d’Estudiants Progressistes (From the Association of Progressive Students-AEP) in Catalunya denounced in a written statement the situation that the students of Boğaziçi University are living and the violent response of the Turkish State that has seen arrested at least 159 students and subjected many to house arrest while the government tries to stifle dissent.2

The AEP reminded how “police officers stormed the university campus when dozens of students protested against the rector imposed and placed on the finger by President Erdogan, Melih Bulu, a businessman who had previously run as a candidate for the Justice Party and Development (AKP), and the consequent repression against the LGBT community, accused of encouraging demonstrations. In fact, Erdogan has called students ‘terrorists’ and LGBT students in particular have been targeted for harassment.”

The Catalan students’ organisation underlined how “since the presidential system came into force in July 2018, the AKP leader has become the only one authorized to appoint rectors to state universities, which had already been deprived of the right to elect their own directors. under the state of emergency after the 2016 coup attempt.”

The AEP also stressed that “the situation has spread beyond the university campus: police have reportedly attacked several solidarity protests in cities across the country in recent days, including Izmir and the Turkish capital Ankara. These protests witnessed assaults, such as that of a young woman who was knocked unconscious and the assaults reported by Protestants who have been searched and sexually assaulted by police officers.

We join the wave of support for students, the LGBT community, freedom of expression and demonstration, as well as academic freedom.”