Reaction Against Investigation into Students Who Protested Expulsions at Technical University

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The 24 students, who have faced a disciplinary investigation for their protests against academic discharges at İstanbul Technical University (İTÜ), pleaded today (March 20).

A statement for the press was issued regarding the disciplinary investigation.

Figures including Republican People’s Party MP Ali Şeker, İTÜ Academic Members Foundation Chair Bilge Özener, Union of Education and Science Laborers Representative Arzu Acar and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Central Executive Board member Beyza Üstün supported the statement.

The statement, which was issued on behalf of the students, qualified the investigation to be “an attack against the freedom of expression” and remarked that “the investigation has no legal basis”.

What happened?

330 academics from 48 universities were discharged from public service by the Statutory Decree No 686 issued on February 7 under the State of Emergency.

Students and academics from İTÜ staged a demonstration with the slogans "No to İTÜ be the next" and "Don't touch my teacher". 

Disciplinary investigation has been launched into 24 students, who protested against the dismissal of academics, of the İstanbul Technical University.

The claims about the 24 students subjected to investigation are "being involved in a group of 30 people gathering without permission in front of the İTÜ Taşkışla Campus, chanting slogans, staging a demonstration" and that "a student has interrupted class and summoned other students to the demonstration". (BK/TK)