Erdoğan ban for students at Istanbul University

Istanbul University's Beyazıt Campus closed its doors to students and academic staff for security reasons ahead of an iftar program held as part of the March 14 Medicine Day, which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set to attend.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet, the university administration announced the measures taken and the restriction decisions via text messages sent to inform participants. The message stated that vehicle entry to the campus for the event was prohibited, all general entrances would be closed, and only invited guests would be admitted. Furthermore, it was requested that vehicles already on the premises be removed by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 13.

INTENSE SECURITY MEASURES ON CAMPUS

While the university administration increased security measures on campus starting Friday evening, it announced to the public that all general entrances would be closed for today (Saturday). Due to this practice, students experienced difficulties in accessing their classes and other academic activities.

While this decision quickly became a trending topic on social media, many students criticized the administration's approach.

STUDENTS REACT TO THE CLOSURE

S.U., one of the Istanbul University students who made a statement on the matter, said, "Erdoğan came to a university without students today. The university administration reported in the messages they sent that security measures were taken on campus, but no information was provided regarding why he was coming to the university."

Reminding that the Beyazıt Campus has been a center for seeking rights in the past, S.U. also expressed their reaction with the words, "This is a university where barricades were breached on March 19 and students fought against the usurpation of their rights. As long as we exist in Beyazıt, we will not surrender our campuses to the palace regime and its representatives."

Another student, N.Ç., stated that they were informed about the event and the measures taken through messages sent by the school administration, saying, "The university administration did not announce in advance that Erdoğan would come to the university. We students learned this from the messages sent to our phones. The message said that no one would be admitted to the campus and that the campus had to be evacuated."

Pointing out that student mobility is being restricted, N.Ç. said, "There is an administrative mentality that prevents students from coming together and tries to intimidate us with investigations. Students who are fighting for a democratic university on our campuses are being kept under pressure."

ARE CLOSURE PRACTICES BECOMING COMMON IN UNIVERSITIES?

Another student, E.A., stated that similar closure practices are also seen in different universities. E.A. said, "We saw that students were removed from areas during an event held at Boğaziçi University in recent weeks. It is not right for campuses to be closed to students during the President's university programs."

Underlining that university life is a right for students, E.A. said, "We are here to receive an education at universities and build our future. Universities should not be the backyard of the palace, but spaces where students can exist freely."

Following today's closure decision, debates regarding free spaces in universities have once again gained prominence among students and the public.