Soylu finds it 'fascistic' to say, 'You have appointed a trustee rector'

* Photo: AA - Archive

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The protests of students and academics against the appointment of Prof. Melih Bulu as the new rector of Boğaziçi University are still ongoing.

CLICK - Police fire tear gas, plastic bullets at Boğaziçi students

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, who previously targeted LGBTI+s within this context and whose tweet has been restricted by Twitter, has commented on the protests for Haber Global TV channel.

Soylu has argued that it is "fascistic approach" to say, "You have appointed a trustee rector". He has argued that 79 of the detained were "members of terrorist organizations, including the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) and Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (TKP-ML)." He has said that he will not let the rector's office be occupied.

'101 are not from Boğaziçi'

Referring to the 108 people who were detained at the South Campus of Boğaziçi University in İstanbul the other day, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has claimed that "101 of these people were not related to Boğaziçi University," reiterating that 79 of the detained are "members of terrorist organizations, including the DHKP/C and TKP-ML."

"It is a university. It is stipulated by our laws how a rector can be elected there," Soylu has said and asked, "Did students of our universities elect rectors in previous elections? No. Who did it? The faculty members of the university did. To me, it was a very wrong system and it was changed thanks to the will of our Mr. President and Turkey."

"Now, they say, 'You have appointed a trustee rector.' This is a fascistic approach, this is not a right approach," Soylu has stated, arguing that saying something like this is rather a "political approach."

'Not compatible with Turkey's values'

Soylu has once again targeted the LGBTI+ community in the context of Boğaziçi University protests. He has argued that "LGBT is not compatible with any values of Turkey", adding that "it is something completely marketed and introduced by the West." Soylu has further claimed:

"Did our past have something like that but we don't know about it? The West has it. It has been putting this forward for a long time."

'I won't let it even when Turkey is up in arms'

"What will these students do? They will enter the office of the rector, they will occupy his office," Soylu has said and added, "I will not let it when I am the Minister of Interior. I will not let it even when Boğaziçi University is up in arms, even when Turkey is up in arms."

Soylu has also questioned what the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs "have to do" with the protests.

He has further argued that "when all these come to an end", Boğaziçi will "once again be one of the most beautiful universities in Turkey."

Criticizing the "mindset that the rector of Boğaziçi University must be from Boğaziçi University", Soylu has asked, "What does this closedness mean?" Arguing that "a minority wants to turn the university into an ideological center, he has said, "We will not let this happen."

Soylu has also commented on the attitude of the law enforcement during the protests. "This is a social incident. Is the attitude of the police wrong or right? We will evaluate it, whether wrong or right," Soylu has said.

'To me, it is deviance'

Soylu has then once again talked about the LGBTI+ community. "We are the children of this land. Does this land have something called LGBT? Is there a socialization of it? There might be such tendencies, but is their socialization the case here," he has asked.

He has reiterated that it is "a trend marketed from the US and Europe to Turkey", arguing that "its socialization will eliminate the family structure."

"Why would the US and Europe support the LGBT in Turkey? For a freer Turkey or for an increasing production?

"But what is the reason for the existence of the PKK, DEASH and FETÖ? The most important strength of this land is Islam and Muslimism. The most important mission behind its spread in Turkey is to alter Islam. These LGBTs... Our religion forbids being nondescript."

He has once again defined being an LGBTI+ person as being "sapkın", which roughly translates as deviant or pervert: "To me, it is deviance. I am a person of faith and according to our faith, this is deviance."

"I am obliged to make these evaluations and protect our family structure. I am obliged to tell this; this is what my religion and my national identity order me to do," Soylu has said and briefly added the following:

"Is it acceptable that the LGBT take hold of Boğaziçi University? We will not let such an attempted occupation happen. We are patiently waiting for this issue to come to an end."

He has also added that "it is a right of the state to allow or to not allow a protest demonstration to take place." (EKN/SD)