METU Students Face Investigation on December Protests
Middle East Technical University President Office said that it launched investigations on more than 20 students for their involvement in the December protests after Ankara General Attorney prosecuted over 45 METU students for property damage, violating protest laws, disobeying police forces and assault.
On December 18, a massive police force intervened the student protests against PM Erdogan's arrival at METU for the launch ceremony of Göktürk 2 satellite in Ankara.
"We were expecting this investigation," Deniz Özbilgin, METU students' lawyer, told bianet. "There is an understanding that PM Erdogan cannot be protested. We find this problematic and refuse it."
Özbilgin also reiterated their demands to give testimony to Ankara General Attorney. "When you give testimony to police regarding police violence, they might be asking manipulative questions like 'Why did you throw stones at police forces? We demanded to testify to the prosecutor instead."
Özbilgin said the investigation included Barış Barışık who suffered from brain damage due to a police gas bomb that hit his head during the protests.
"Barışık filed officials complaints but the police said they were unable to identify the police officer who casted the bomb. Although we know that they can identify protestors even in the dark," Özbilgin said.
METU President's Office released a statement listing the charges made on students on the disciplinary investigation, which included "covering hacks with masks, casting water bottles and stones, assaulting police officers and property damage.
"PM Erdogan wanted to take revenge from us, but we showed our face. I testified on February 14 to police authorities who asked manipulative questions on whether I threw stones at the police. I don't know how the police investigation will end, but I am sure the university investigation will just come clear," İlknur Özcan, a protestor METU student, said.
Student collectives from METU university also released a statement concerning the investigations.
"AKP government's attacks on METU indeed targets universities and public opposition. AKP is trying to oppress universities and public opposition. But we managed to confront their attacks and we will continue our struggle in the future as well," the statement said. (BK/HK/BM)