ELİF AKGÜL

Istanbul-One of the rising movements in Turkey in 2021 was the student movement. 2021 started with the protests of the students of Boğaziçi University against the appointment of Mehmet Naci İnci as the rector of the university. Then the members of the student movement, called “We Can't Shelter”, protested the rising dormitory rents and fees by spending nights at parks.  

Turkey's Interior Ministry spokesperson İsmail Çataklı announced that 528 people were detained in the protests against the appointment of the rector to Boğaziçi University. Two of the 528 people, who were detained in 38 cities across Turkey were jailed while the other 498 people were released.

We spoke to Berna Akkızal, director of the Civic Space Studies Association, about the rising student movement and police violence in Turkey.

Stating that students took to the streets across the country due to increasing oppression, inequality, and poverty, Berna Akkızal underlined that the demands of the students were supported by many people. “We Can't Shelter protests pointed out the crucial point,” she said, “Because a large segment of the population faces the problems of not being able to find a shelter to live in and to make ends meet. The students spent nights at parks because of a problem that could be easily solved. First, they were ignored but then their right demand urged the authorities at some point. The protests of the students allow us to see how the students are full of hope and determined to struggle.”

“The government has targeted universities in recent years”

Emphasizing that the Turkish government has targeted universities in recent years, Berna Akkızal said, “Many Academics for Peace were dismissed from their posts by decrees issued under the state of emergency. The President has the power to appoint rectors to universities.  The people, who are not experts in their fields, were placed in universities as deans, department heads, etc. because they are close to the government. The students faced police violence while using their right to protest. Arbitrary arrests against students increased. Students were tried to be intimidated by political pressure. The discriminatory discourse and violence against LGBTI+s and women increased. These pressures and inequalities became the bursting point of the student movement.”

“One of the biggest problems faced by students is poverty”

Indicating that one of the biggest problems faced by students is poverty, Berna Akkızal pointed out the We Can't Shelter protests. “Increasing economic crisis, deepening inequality with the pandemic, unqualified cafeterias of universities, low capacity, and hygiene of dormitories…  The students living in big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara faced high rent prices due to the low capacity of dormitories. Last year, many students couldn’t go to universities due to the rising dormitory rents and fees. Students spent nights at parks to protest because of a problem that could be easily solved. First, the students were ignored but then their right demand urged the authorities at some point.”

“The government tries to intimidate the student movement”

Speaking about police violence against students, Berna Akkızal said, “The government wants to intimidate the student movement by police violence, torture, and ill-treatment. The students are threatened to be expelled from dormitories, deprived of their scholarships when they join protests. The students face both economical and legal threats. Previously, 11 students were subjected to arbitrary arrests and accusations for attending the protests. Despite all the pressure, the students are full of hope and they are determined to struggle.”