Following the closure of Istanbul Bilgi University by a presidential decree issued on May 22, students, faculty, and staff protested the decision for three days. On the night of May 24, it was announced that the closure order had been revoked by another presidential decree.
Following the closure of Istanbul Bilgi University, announced in a decision by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published in the Official Gazette on the night of May 22 without any prior notification to students, faculty or staff, protests broke out on the university campus. Three days after the closure, another presidential decree announced that the university had reopened. What happened during those three days?
Day one (May 22)
On the night of May 22, the decision to close Istanbul Bilgi University was published in the Resmi Gazete. Issued under Article 11 of the Additional Provisions of Law No. 2547 on Higher Education, this decision allows the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to suspend the operations of higher education institutions established by foundations if YÖK determines deficiencies in their educational standards and these are not rectified despite warnings.
YÖK and the university administration issued a statement early this morning assuring that no one would be left in a difficult situation. Shortly after the statement, the Bilgi University Student Solidarity group reported that employees’ meal cards and private health insurance had been canceled.
Students, faculty members, and staff gathered at the Santral Campus at 2:00 p.m. to protest the decision. Entrances were blocked by riot police with barricades, and the historic gate of the university was locked. Security units allowed students onto the campus but initially did not allow graduates to enter. Later, through negotiations led by graduates and union members, many people were able to enter the campus. Several unions, including the Private Sector Teachers’ Union (Özel Sektör Öğretmenleri Sendikası) and Eğitim-SEN, were present on campus.
A march was held to the Rector’s Office, where press statements were made in front of the building, followed by the launch of an indefinite sit-in on the campus lawns. After speeches and chants, the Music Department of Istanbul Bilgi University also arrived at the sit-in site with their instruments.
Students organized a forum in the evening. After the forum, everyone on campus spent the night inside the university. As a result of negotiations with the Rector’s Office, decisions were made to provide housing for students staying on campus, set up an event tent, allow access to food and water, prevent students inside from being removed, and resume in-person education after the holiday.
Day two (May 23)
At 2:00 PM, everyone gathered on campus. This time, graduates and union members were not permitted entry. A unionized faculty member had their foot trapped in the door by private security. Following negotiations, entry was finally permitted.
Students organized a press conference to demand that the university be nationalized and resume operations within three days. They chanted slogans such as “Knowledge belongs to us, and it will remain ours,” “Knowledge is here with its professors,” and “Long live student solidarity.” A march was held to the Rector’s Office building, where a sit-in and a forum were held. During the forum, some academics and Rector Ege Yazgan pledged that the rights of everyone at Istanbul Bilgi University would be protected.
Faculty and students from the Music Department at Istanbul Bilgi University gave a concert. The students spent the night at the university again.
As night fell, the number of riot police and detention vehicles in the university parking lot increased significantly. At midnight, Rector Ege Yazgan announced that the campus would be effectively closed. The decision was put into effect, with entry prohibited for students, faculty, and alumni, and it was stated that no food or water supplies would be allowed in from outside.
Day three (May 24)
Police and private security personnel did not allow students or staff to enter the campus from outside.
People outside threw food and snacks over the fences to the students inside.
Students inside the campus were forcibly removed through torture. Police used physical violence and pepper spray against the students. Many injured students reported instances of torture through journalists covering the news. It was noted that some students had blood on their faces, arms, and legs.
Following the police intervention against the students, around 5:00 p.m., students and staff held up a banner reading “Honk for Bilgi” and called out to passing cars on the street. After everyone was forcibly removed from the campus, the sit-in continued in front of the college.
According to information published in the Resmi Gazete late at night, the decision to close Bilgi University was withdrawn by a presidential decree.
YÖK President Erol Özvar stated in a post on his social media account this morning (May 25) regarding the matter: “The initial decision was a mandatory legal procedure that had to be carried out within the framework of current legislation. However, based on the reports submitted and the assessment of the current situation, our President, as always, has carefully considered the expectations of our students, their families, and university staff.”