New lawsuit over Boğaziçi University protests

* Photo: Dilek Şen - bianet

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A new lawsuit has been filed against the students who participated in the protests against Boğaziçi University's appointed rector Prof. Melih Bulu and the people who supported the students' protests.

The 75-page indictment prepared by prosecutor Sinan Çelik has demanded that 97 defendants be penalized on charge of "violating the Law no. 2911 by attending unlawful meetings and marches unarmed and refusing to disperse by themselves despite warnings."

Accepted by the İstanbul 32nd Penal Court of First Instance, the indictment has referred to a flag made of cloth, placards and banners as "evidence." The first hearing of the trial has not yet been specified.

The indictment has argued that "it has been understood from the scope of all investigation documents that there is adequate suspicion suggesting that the suspects committed the offense charged."

The protests against the "trustee-rector" continued in front of Boğaziçi University's South Campus in Rumelihisarüstü in İstanbul on February 1, 2021; several students and others who were there to support them were detained in Nisbetiye and Bebek in the vicinity of the school.

'We will take it from here' posts 'detected'

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.

The lawsuit against the other 97 people has been filed at the İstanbul 32nd Penal Court of First Instance.

The indictment has said that "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."

The indictment has also referred to "the ex officio works on social media undertaken by the İstanbul Security Branch Directorate" officers, indicating that "...it was detected that there were social media posts announcing that a press statement and protest entitled 'We will take it from here' (#bundansonrasıbizde) would be held in front of Boğaziçi University South Campus Main Entrance in Beşiktaş district at 5 p.m."

'A gradual intervention against students'

The indictment of the prosecutor has further argued that following this call on social media, "the related ban imposed by the İstanbul Governor's Office was notified to the groups by the law enforcement officers and the persons were warned to disperse more than once."

Evidence: 'Stand up against sexist education' leaflet

Claiming that "a gradual intervention was made against the students" afterwards, the indictment has also listed the following pieces of "evidence" obtained from the people after they were searched:

* Youth Future Socialism DGB (Revolutionary Youth Union) banner and a flag made of cloth with yellow DLB letters on a read background and "Revolutionary High Schools Union" in black letters below it,

* Four "Stand up against Sexist Education - United Student Assemblies" leaflets, 11 attached to cardboard,

* Four leaflets of "Stand up against Trustee-Rector",

* Three leaflets of "Academia cannot be Handcuffed",

* One leaflet of "Stand up for Free Autonomous University"

* One leaflet of "May the dungeons come down, freedom for captives",

* One leaflet of "Stand up against Isolation in Every Area of Life"

* 28 leaflets with a text titled "In Our Freedoms" signed by "Revolutionary Student Uniın - DEB"

Put on trial over the previous protests, the other people are facing the same charge at the İstanbul 49th Penal Court of First Instance. (AS/SD)