Turan Emeksiz, martyr of democracy and freedom
On April 28, 1960, 20-year-old Turan Emeksiz was killed during major student protests at Istanbul University against the repressive practices of the Democrat Party.
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Today marks the 65th anniversary of the death of Turan Emeksiz, a martyr of democracy and freedom and a symbolic figure of the revolutionary youth…
What Happened on April 28, 1960?
The Democrat Party (DP), led by Adnan Menderes, established the Investigation Commission, consisting of 15 deputies, on April 18, 1960.
Equipped with extraordinary powers and full authority to conduct any kind of investigation, this commission accused the main opposition party, the CHP, of 'dangerous activities' and 'preparing armed and organized uprisings,' going so far as to seek the closure of the party and the seizure of its assets.
The Investigation Commission, which had the authority to confiscate publications, seize newspapers and printing houses, seize any documents and items it deemed necessary, and ban political meetings, also had the power to interrogate, detain, arrest, and sentence those who opposed its decisions to prison terms ranging from 1 to 3 years.
The commission's proceedings were secret; its decisions could not be appealed!
Adnan Menderes and Celal Bayar drew significant backlash with their statements, while İsmet İnönü's activities were obstructed and he was targeted.
The student movement formed the most massive pillar of the opposition against this atmosphere of repression, which began on April 28-29, 1960, and continued almost every day until the May 27 military intervention.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Istanbul University (I.U.) Faculty of Medicine Student Association's congress in Beyazıt on April 27, 1960, was raided by law enforcement, and students were beaten.
On April 28, students gathered at the I.U. Faculty of Law and protested the Democrat Party government. Law student Nuri Yazıcı, who gave a speech there, said, "Where law ends, law is not studied," and invited his friends to the courtyard. The events escalated, and law enforcement entered the campus and began to intervene against the students. The I.U. Rector of the time, Ordinary Professor Dr. Sıddık Sami Onar, stood in front of the police to protect his students and asked them to leave the university.
In front of thousands of young people gathered around the statue in front of the Rectorate, Rector Sıddık Sami Onar was manhandled by police and dragged along the ground before being taken to the police station.
The tension gradually escalated, and as a result of the fire opened by law enforcement, Faculty of Forestry student Turan Emeksiz was killed.
Losing his life at the age of 20, Turan Emeksiz has gone down in history as a martyr of the struggle for freedom and democracy…