Boğaziçi rector's order against CHP: Scuffle between security and CHP delegation attempting to enter university

Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies arrived at Boğaziçi University to support students and academics.

The deputies were denied entry under the instructions of Boğaziçi University's appointed rector, Naci İnci.

CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş, who was part of the delegation, stated, "I will pass through here. They cannot physically intervene with us. This is a right protected by law. We are members of parliament. If you stop me, you will be committing a crime."

"OUR OBSTRUCTION IS UNLAWFUL"

The delegation included CHP deputies Okan Konuralp, Yüksel Taşkın, Tahsin Ocaklı, and Suat Özçağdaş, as well as EMEP deputy İskender Bayhan.

As the CHP deputies attempted to enter, security forces linked arms to block their path. The deputies, noting that Boğaziçi University is a public institution, stated that the obstruction was unlawful.

"WE CAME FOR OUR OVERSIGHT DUTY"

Reacting to the situation, CHP İzmir Deputy Yüksel Taşkın said, "I am coming here for my oversight duty as a member of parliament. We can enter any institution except for prisons. We went to METU just yesterday; why didn't anything happen there? Can it be one way there and another way here? Why is the rector uncomfortable?"

Despite the obstruction, the deputies began walking to enter the university.

While the deputies entered the university despite the blockade, security personnel attempted to prevent members of the press from filming.

Once inside, the deputies were confronted by riot police. The CHP delegation announced that they would make a statement in the coming minutes.

STATEMENT FROM ÖZÇAĞDAŞ

Speaking in front of the university, Özçağdaş made the following remarks:

“We are in front of Boğaziçi University with nine CHP deputies, one EMEP deputy, and Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a very bad, very negative scene for Turkey.

Boğaziçi University is holding its graduation ceremony. For 1,279 days, Boğaziçi University faculty members and students have been holding a very peaceful protest here. As deputies, we came here because it is a beautiful day and there is no parliamentary activity. Deputies perform oversight duties on behalf of the nation. This is our duty. Therefore, it never crossed our minds that anything would happen. We had also scheduled a statement for 2:00 PM regarding a technical high school in Beşiktaş that was inexplicably closed. We came here to enter. We entered, and a scuffle occurred. We saw people who have dedicated their lives to this university who could not enter through the gate. I asked why they were there. They said, ‘There is a blacklist, we cannot enter. We are faculty members of this university, but we are banned.’

We came inside and saw young children with their arms linked. We are deputies; we will walk through. If we pass and those friends intervene excessively, that is a legal problem for them. I and my friends are talking to them, we are thinking of them. I mean, why should they be put on trial? The administrator doesn't care about this. The person who thinks they have the opportunity of a lifetime because they were appointed as a trustee here says, ‘Stop them.’ Who are you? I am addressing the person occupying the Boğaziçi University rectorate; I won't even say your name. Who are you? If you want, go manage Turkcell, who are you? And if they hadn't acted this absurdly, this wouldn't have happened. Özgür Çelik spoke with the Governor and the Police Chief. Eventually, we entered. Riot police caught up from behind and blocked our path. They put young female police officers in front of us. We need to protect them too. We said, ‘There is only 70-80 meters left, end this nonsense.’ What could we do at a graduation? In the end, I suppose when all these events reached this point, someone said, ‘Let it not get worse.’ We entered, did what we were going to do, and came back. This visit was planned for 15 minutes.”

News Source: 12punto