SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: May 13, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Imprisonment

Institution(s):Boğaziçi University

Region & Country:Western Asia | Turkey

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On May 13, 2025, police clashed with students during a protest at the Boğaziçi University. Dozens of students were detained.

Around 100 students had gathered on campus to protest against the invitation of Nureddin Yıldız—an Islamic preacher who has caused public outrage with his statements legitimizing child marriage and violence against women— as a speaker in an on-campus event.

After riot police arrived on campus, a clash broke out between students and police. Police forcibly dispersed the students, reportedly using pepper spray.

Local media reported that over 150 students were initially detained; most were released that same night. Fifteen students faced more serious charges and were referred to the Criminal Court of Peace with a request for arrest. The following day, on May 14, the court issued arrest warrants for six students and released the remaining nine under judicial supervision, which includes travel bans and mandatory police check-ins.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest and the detention of students for exercising their right to freedom of expression. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://turkishminute.com/2025/05/14/turkish-police-detain-97-people-in-university-protest-over-preachers-views-on-child-marriage/
https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/05/15/6-bogazici-university-students-arrested-after-protesting-controversial-islamic-preacher/#:~:text=Chanting%20slogans%20such%20as%20%E2%80%9CNureddin,and%20removed%20from%20the%20venue.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkish-police-detain-97-students-over-university-protest-2025-05-14/
https://www.dw.com/tr/bo%C4%9Fazi%C3%A7inde-protesto-eylemine-kat%C4%B1lan-6-%C3%B6%C4%9Frenci-tutukland%C4%B1/a-72534902