İSTANBUL - Seven students, two arrested and two under house arrest, appear before the judge today. They are facing charges over an image on display at the South Campus of Boğaziçi University as part of the protests against the appointed rector.

 

The trial of seven students over an image on display at the South Campus of Boğaziçi University in İstanbul started today (March 17).

 

The students, two arrested and two under house arrest, are facing charges over an image of the Kaaba, a sacred place in Islam, with rainbow flags at its corners and a Shahmaran figure on it.

 

While the students are also indicted "because the image was placed on the ground", the image in question was exhibited as part of the protests against Prof. Melih Bulu, the appointed rector of Boğaziçi University.

 

Before today's hearing, strict security measures were observed around the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Independent MP Ahmet Şık, Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) MP Barış Atay, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Hüda Kaya, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs Sera Kadıgil and Özgür Özel and CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu came to the courthouse to watch the hearing.

 

Upon the call of the Boğaziçi Solidarity platform, several students, academics and alumni of Boğaziçi University came together in front of the courthouse in Çağlayan and made a statement for the press.

 

Their statement briefly read:

 

RELEASE OUR STUDENTS

 

"We are here today to support our seven students who were taken into custody for protesting the illegitimate rector appointment to Boğaziçi University and arrested or released afterwards, pending trial.

 

"Since January 30, our two students have been deprived of freedom, two arrested in Metris Prison and two under house arrest. We would like to once again declare it to the public that we stand with our students.

 

"Since January 4, we, as the academics of Boğaziçi University, have been saying, 'We Don't Accept, We Don't Give up". We predicate it on the fundamental principles of Boğaziçi University, which explain our egalitarian and participatory tradition.

 

"The new rector's office, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the mentality of politics that they are entitled to aim to render the universal, pluralistic and democratic principles of our university null and void.

 

"In line with this aim, they define the opposition and any type of social incident as a matter of public order and pursue policies of securitization.

 

"There is no problem of public order. The right of the university constituents, united or separated, to criticize the policies concerning Boğaziçi University has been guaranteed by the Constitution.

 

"Our students are portrayed as criminals and suspects in the eyes of society. By doing this, they attempt to legitimize forceful and oppressive methods at Boğaziçi University, as is the case in Turkey in general.

 

"Criticism and protest is a right. We do not accept the charges brought against our students who used these rights. We demand that our students be released immediately and, with the new semester starting tomorrow, we demand that they start their education without losing any more time."