On March 20, 2025, police used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse students protesting at Middle East Technical University.

That evening, students gathered at the university to peacefully protest the government’s arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and the Republican People’s Party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. Images posted on social media show police dispersing students forcibly.

The protest was connected to nationwide demonstrations that began on March 19 following the arrest of İmamoğlu on factually baseless charges of corruption. University students have played a large role in the protests. As of April 18, more than 2,000 individuals had been arrested, with 189 people, most of whom are university students, facing a range of charges including attending an unauthorized demonstration and not obeying police orders to disperse; carrying weapons or covering their faces to conceal their identity; and incitement to commit a crime.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force against peaceful student protesters by police. While state authorities have an obligation to take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of students and university personnel and should endeavor to prevent disruptions that inappropriately inhibit the functioning of or access to higher education, they must do so consistent with their responsibility to ensure academic freedom and free expression on campus. The punishment of nonviolent student expression undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cq6ye161j74o
https://www.dw.com/tr/sara%C3%A7hanede-i%CC%87mamo%C4%9Flu-protestosu/live-71968500
https://tr.mehrnews.com/news/1925434/T%C3%BCrkiye-deki-protestolar-d%C4%B1%C5%9F-bas%C4%B1na-nas%C4%B1l-yans%C4%B1d%C4%B1