An investigation has been launched into more than 20 students at the Ankara-based Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) for unfurling a rainbow flag at the university’s graduation ceremony on July 7, the Diken news website reported on Monday.
The rainbow flag, commonly known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements.
A group of students unfurled the rainbow flag when the university’s rector Verşan Gök was handing out diplomas at the graduation ceremony.
The students reportedly received e-mails from the university telling them that unfurling rainbow flags was banned.
Several other students from ODTÜ were jailed about a month ago for carrying banners at the graduation ceremony that allegedly insulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
