Istanbul University Students: "Murderous China, Leave Istanbul University!"

After Istanbul University cancelled a planned event for orphaned children due to the presence of Uyghur children, students organised a protest.

According to information circulating on social media, despite obtaining official permission a month in advance for the event organised by the Humanitarian Aid Club, due to the presence of children from East Turkestan among the orphaned children participating, the university initially requested that the Uyghur children not participate. However, due to the students' refusal, the event was cancelled a day before by the university administration. The information sent to the students included statements stating that "a diplomatic crisis may arise with the Chinese Consulate General" and that the use of the East Turkistan flag was not permitted.

The students noted that a meeting organised by the club in April, titled "Gaza and East Turkistan," was also disrupted by the university rector. The reason given at the time was similar: "a diplomatic crisis may arise with China."

Following this university decision, the student club organised a protest and press release on Friday on the university campus, holding signs reading "Murderous China, Get Out of Istanbul University!" The students emphasised that the university's primary duty is to protect freedom of thought and academic independence, and accused Istanbul University of submitting to the demands of another country.

The statement read: "The degree of interference of another country in the internal affairs of this nation and university is incompatible with our national honour and the status of the university... The flag of East Turkistan will continue to fly continuously within the university. We will not give up defending East Turkistan."

The students also addressed Istanbul University Rector Osman Bülent Zülfıkar, asking: "How can the demands of a foreign country direct the administration of a Turkish university? Is our administration protecting its students, or is it protecting the interests of the oppressive Chinese regime?"

The students described the university's stance as "subservience and cowardice," and demanded the cancellation of the agreement signed with China, the lifting of the ban order, and the university's protection of Turkey's youth.

A meeting titled "East Turkistan," organised by the Pen and Word Association at Sakarya University in December of last year, was abruptly cancelled by university officials, sparking strong protests. At the same time, students also staged a demonstration against the meeting and issued a statement.