An İstanbul court has ruled for the arrest of six students from Boğaziçi University and imposed judicial supervision measures on nine others following a demonstration at the school protesting the appearance of a controversial Islamic preacher whose past remarks condoning child marriage have drawn widespread condemnation, the Anka news agency reported.
The arrests came after a protest on Tuesday, when the university’s Islamic Studies Club (BİSAK) hosted theologian and author Nureddin Yıldız for an event titled “Islamic Sciences: For Whom and How Much?” Yıldız has been criticized for a 2015 statement in which he claimed that Islamic law does not set a minimum age for marriage, suggesting that girls as young as six could be legally wed.
Tensions escalated on campus as students and activists staged demonstrations, denouncing the university for allowing someone with “a mindset that legitimizes male violence and abuse” to speak. Protesters held banners that read “Boğaziçi is not the backyard of the government” and “There’s no place at our university for those who normalize violence and exploitation.”
Chanting slogans such as “Nureddin, get out, these campuses are ours” and “No to sharia, fascism and darkness,” the crowd attempted to march toward the event venue, prompting the arrival of riot police. Clashes broke out, and dozens of protesters were forcibly detained.
A total of 157 people were initially taken into custody during the police intervention. Of those, 97 were referred to the 13th Criminal Court of Peace in İstanbul for arrest on charges of resisting police officers. The İstanbul Governor’s Office confirmed that 58 men and 39 women were detained, and that 13 police officers sustained minor injuries, mostly due to falls during the scuffles.
While most detainees were released after processing late on Tuesday, 15 students were referred to court with a request for arrest. On Wednesday the court ordered the arrest of six students and released the remaining nine under judicial supervision, which includes travel bans and mandatory police check-ins.
The students are accused of resisting the police, according to their lawyers.
During the protest a student allegedly threw an object at Yıldız while he was speaking. The student was reportedly beaten by others in the room and removed from the venue.
Political criticism
The incident drew sharp criticism from opposition figures and human rights advocates. Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Sevgi Kılıç denounced the police response on social media, saying, “Trying to silence students through arrests is part of the authoritarian regime’s effort to control universities.” She also criticized the obstruction of lawyers attempting to see their detained clients.
CHP lawmaker Mahmut Tanal questioned the double standard in police conduct, asking why officers failed to intervene against pro-Yıldız demonstrators outside the university. “Why is tear gas, handcuffing and arrest used against students exercising their constitutional right to protest, while no action is taken against a group openly threatening them?” he said.
Another CHP lawmaker, Özgür Karabat, echoed the criticism: “Ninety-seven people were taken into custody, with tear gas and handcuffs, for raising their voice against a bigot who defends child abuse. Boğaziçi students are the pride of this country. No one will be left alone in this struggle.”
Boğaziçi University has been at the center of political unrest since 2021, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed a rector without internal elections, sparking protests over academic independence. The administration has since maintained a firm stance against student activism, with further disciplinary measures expected following this week’s protests.