Rümeysa Öztürk, detained in the US, recounts her experience: 'I thought I was being kidnapped and killed'

Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, who was detained in the US on March 25 due to her support for Palestine, has expressed the horror she experienced. Öztürk stated that when she was stopped by individuals in plain clothes, she was overcome with the fear that she was being kidnapped and would be killed.

In a 7-page petition submitted to the US District Court for the District of Vermont, Öztürk detailed the moments she experienced during the detention process.

Öztürk, who was stopped by 6 masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials while she was near her home in Massachusetts on her way to break her fast, stated that she felt she was being "kidnapped and killed" as they took her to an unknown location.

Öztürk said, "I asked for a female police officer to be with us, but they said there were none around. They were all in plain clothes. I thought this was a strange situation and I was sure they were going to kill me."

The Turkish doctoral student emphasized that she "did not think they were police" because she had "never seen police approach and take someone in this manner" under normal circumstances.

In her petition, she noted that she only realized she was truly being detained by US security forces when they stopped at a place in New Hampshire that resembled a police station.

REQUEST TO SPEAK WITH A LAWYER WAS BLOCKED

Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk stated that she wanted to speak with her lawyer immediately after being detained, but this request was denied. Although she was told she could speak with her lawyer upon arriving in Vermont, she reported that this promise was not kept.

Öztürk expressed her experience with the words, "I wanted to speak with a lawyer again in Vermont, but they said I could not do that, even though they had previously stated I could call my lawyer from Vermont."

Spending the night in Vermont in a cell with a hard bench and no bed, Öztürk said, "They came to my cell several times throughout the night and asked me questions about whether I wanted to apply for asylum and whether I was a member of a terrorist organization."

EXPERIENCED HEALTH PROBLEMS IN LOUISIANA

Taken to the state of Louisiana, thousands of kilometers away from where she lived and studied in Massachusetts, Öztürk reported that she suffered four asthma attacks there and could not access the necessary medical assistance.

Drawing attention to the harsh attitude of the authorities in Louisiana, Öztürk stated that she did not feel safe. Furthermore, she said, "I have still not been given a prayer rug or a Quran. I also wanted to meet with a Muslim chaplain. I made these requests more than two weeks ago. I also asked for light long-sleeved clothing due to the weather, but I could not get them. I pray every day to be released so I can return to my home in Somerville (Massachusetts) and to my community."

In her petition, Öztürk also stated that she wants to complete her doctorate, which she has been working on for the last 5 years, and requested to be released on bail.