Students in Denizli Province Speak Up

Following PM Erdoğan’s remarks on a “possible intervention to student apartments”, various university students from the southwestern province of Denizli spoke up to bianet. 

“We have witnessed in Denizli province. The incapacity of residences create issues. Male and female university students share the same apartment. There is no inspection on that. This is against our conservative democrat mentality. We have given orders to the governor. There will be an inspection one way or another,” PM said.

Some of student reactions are as follows:

“They are re-designing the apart system” 

Selçuk Çelik (Medicine, Junior): There are over 40,000 students in Denizli. State-led residences provide housing for over 5,000 students. The remaining students are lodged in religious residents as well as private apartments and private residences. In Denizli, there is also the “apart” system, which is private and furnished housing for students with wealthy backgrounds. The rents start from 400 liras there. Only students live there and most of them are mixed. I think PM has seen those places. He is trying to re-organize this, I guess.  It was always an issue to find housing for mixed genders before. Landlords were reluctant. They would order you not to bring your lover to the apartment. Rents have hiked recently and that led to more demand for student residences. Lodging is already a big deal. PM is attacking now from a lifestyle point to please his voters.

“We fear an impending raid"

Suzan Karabaş (English, Senior): Denizli is like a pilot region. They are trying to silence students. Police have detained at least 102 students who protested. 36 have been arrested. There is a vibrant and organized student community, there they see it as a threat.  They are also trying to prove the public against us. After PM’s remarks, many students have started asking themselves whether their apartments will be raided one day. PM is maintaining an attitude that he had initiated within the abortion law and women encouragement package. We will react accordingly.

“Female students were already under threat through families”

İ.S (School Teaching, Senior): As female students, we are already under threat through our families. Last year, several female students’ families were called by the police. They claimed that their daughters or their boyfriends had linkages with ‘illegal organizations’. Now the current pressure will be bolstered through honor. I am very upset and I fear about the future. What will happen next is that I won’t be able to walk freely with my boyfriend. There is already a social pressure everywhere but now they are inside our apartment. Student residences in Denizli are still mixed but I don’t think they will remain like that anymore. 

“Protest students live in mixed houses” 

Okan Karakuş: (Literature, Senior): There is all sort of pressures in Denizli. The reason is the replacement of university president and the assignment of PM’s head security chief to the police headquarters. Since then, there is a lot of pressure here. Police doesn’t even allow press statements anymore. They are trying to put everyone under their domination. There is already a lodging problem among male students due to high demand. They instantly ask you where you came from. They are pushing students towards cheap residences owned by religious groups. Those who live in mixed apartments are the only protest ones. The government conveys the message that they know that. I am staying with a female roommate and we started freaking out now. Will they raid our apartment? They are pushing us to put a step backward. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.