MEPs call for release of arrested Boğaziçi students

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Four members of the European Parliament, Özlem Alev Demirel, Idoia Villanueva Ruiz, Dietmar Köster and Niklas Nienass, released a statement in response to an urgent call by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV/HRFT).

Berke Gök and Perit Özen, are kept in prison "arbitrarily" and should be immediately released, said the MEPs.

Full text of the statement:

For some time now, we have been observing with great concern the arbitrary repression of the state security forces against the students of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. The students of the prestigious university have been protesting for months against the arbitrary appointment of the rector by President Erdoğan. They are exercising a right that is also enshrined in Turkey's Basic Law. However, they have been paying a very high price for exercising their fundamental right to protest and demonstrate for some time now: the students are being clubbed down, terrorized, arrested and in some cases, tortured.

The European public must not accept this aggression and arbitrariness of state officials and the security forces under their command. It is also incomprehensible why the university is denied the right to democratically choose the rector of their own university, as they have always done at this university.

The latest victims of this arbitrary and anti-democratic policy are Ersin Berke Gök and Perit Özen. They have been in detention for 70 days, 50 days of which have been spent in solitary confinement. They were not allowed to access their school exam papers and necessary medicine. On 26 October 2021, they have been transferred from Metris Prison to Silivri Prison. Following their transfer, letters written by their relatives have not been given to them. They face now and even earlier than the 5th October violence from authorities during peaceful protests at Boğaziçi University.

Additionally inhumane confinement conditions have been imposed. The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) writes: ,Overall treatment of Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Ozen has clearly violated the prohibition of torture. Their physical and mental integrity is under real and imminent risk, and their right to education has been infringed as well." As members of the European Parliament, we call on the responsible persons and authorities:

* Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and mental integrity of Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Ozen and of all participants of peaceful Bogazici University protests;

* The immediate and unconditional release Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Ozen as their detention is arbitrary and can only be seen as punishment for their human rights activities;

* Drop all charges against Ersin Berke Gök and Caner Perit Ozen, as well as all participants of peaceful Bogazici University protests;

* Put an end to any harassment against all human rights defenders in Turkey, and ensure in all circumstances their right to security and liberty, and that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance or fear of reprisals.

* Conformity to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular with Articles 1, 5(c), and 12.2.

(AS/VK)