ITU Faculty of Architecture students protest department head over Imamoglu: 'Yüksel out, universities are ours'

Prof. Dr. Yüksel Demir, who signed off on the cancellation of Imamoglu's diploma, was protested by ITU Faculty of Architecture students. Demir was forced to leave the hall under security escort without answering the students' questions.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Architecture students, alumni, and academics invited Yüksel Demir, who had signed off on the process to cancel IMM Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's diploma and was subsequently appointed as dean of the ITU Faculty of Architecture, to the Ortabahçe campus to answer questions and provide an explanation regarding the cancellation decision.

However, Demir did not respond positively to this invitation, stating that he would not come out to the garden and would only meet with student representatives (ÖTK) in the faculty.

"HOW WERE YOU APPOINTED DEAN?"

Upon this, the ÖTK members stated that the decision belonged to the students and went to the classroom together. Faced with a classroom full of students, Yüksel Demir said he would not answer the questions posed to him and would not explain his reasoning.

Demir did not respond to questions such as, "Why did you sign it? Are you aware that this decision is political? Do you think the diploma cancellation and the arrest are a coincidence? Did you have the chance not to sign? How were you appointed as dean? If our diplomas were to be targeted for cancellation in the future, would you sign that too?"

Following Demir's silence, the students reacted with chants of "Yüksel out, universities are ours." After these events, Demir left the classroom under security escort.