Rights groups call for arrested Boğaziçi students’ release ahead of first hearing

* Photo: Ali Aktaş

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22 rights organizations have released a joint statement about Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen, the students of Boğaziçi University who have been arrested after protesting Naci İnci, who has been appointed as the rector after the dismissal of appointed rector Melih Bulu.

Arrested on October 6, 2021 upon the criminal complaint of Naci İnci, Gök and Özen face 6 years to 32 years in prison.

In their joint statement ahead of the first hearing of the arrested students on January 7, the rights organizations have called for a fair trial.

'Arbitrary arrests'

Recalling that the students, faculty members and alumni of Boğaziçi University have been protesting the appointed rectors for over a year since January 4, 2021, the rights organizations have noted that "thousands of students have been taken into custody, subjected to police violence, held in house arrest and put under judicial control measures while dozens of students have been faced with arbitrary arrests all through the Boğaziçi University protests even though there are no legal grounds."

The joint statement has noted, "Due to the policies of illegimization developed in the face of students' peaceful protests in defense of the university, Boğaziçi University students Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Özen have been held in prison since October 6, 2021."

The organizations have further recalled that "the last investigation into peaceful protests against the appointment of rectors with anti-democratic methods has been launched against 14 students, including Berke and Perit, the students who are currently arrested."

They have reiterated that "as per the indictment lodged upon the tip-off of trustee-rector Naci İnci, the students face the possible charges of 'deprivation of liberty, resisting to prevent fulfilment of duty, damaging public property and hijacking or deforcing land vehicles'."

The first hearing to be held this Friday

"The first hearing of the lawsuit filed against 14 students, including Berke and Perit, will be held at the İstanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance on January 7 at 9.30," the statement has recalled, adding:

"We are aware that these arbitrary arrests are used as a tool to suppress students' movement and to intimidate and scare students. It is not a crime to exercise the right to a peaceful meeting and demonstration, which is guaranteed by international conventions and the Constitution.

We demand that Berke and Perit, who were among the students struggling for an autonomous, free and democratic campus life in equal conditions, be released immediately and all students on trial be put on free trial free from any political pressure.

The undersigned organizations: Alevi Thought Hearth Association, Ankara Freedom of Thought Initiative, Alumni Initiative for Boğaziçi University, Bogaziçi Alumni – America Group, Boğaziçi Watch, Boğaziçi University Intervening Graduates, Boğaziçi University International Community (BOYUT), Civil Rights Defenders, Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 Turkey (DiEM 25 TR), Initiative for Freedom of Expression, Monitoring for Equal Rights Association, Truth Justice Memory Center, Human Rights Association, Human Rights Agenda Association, Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Studies and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL), Muamma LGBTI+ Association, Rosa Women's Association, Civil Space Studies Association, Association of Psychologists for Social Solidarity, Turkey Germany Culture Forum, Citizen Initiative.

What happened?

10 students were taken into custody at Boğaziçi University in İstanbul on October 5, 2021 on the grounds that they had joined the ongoing protests against Naci İnci, the appointed rector of the university.

Three students were released from detention after giving their statements at the police station. Held in detention at night, seven students were referred to the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan a day later after the related formalities had been completed at the police station.

Interrogated at the prosecutor's office, four students were released on probation while three were referred to judgeship to be arrested.

The İstanbul Penal Judgeship of Peace on Duty ruled that two students should be arrested and one should be released on probation.

Rector İnci had applied to the prosecutor's office against his 14 students on charges of "threat, insult, damage to property, resisting for preventing duty and violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations." (RT/SD)