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In a week of high drama in Istanbul centred around Boğaziçi University - a feeder institution to the countries business, academic & political elite - allegations of students blacklisting other students & competing political agendas has marred the protests 
A group of students at Bogazici have published a timeline of events on what's happened at the university since the new rector, Melih Bulu, was appointed at the university on the 2nd Jan 2021.
Source: https://medium.com/@bogazicindeneleroluyor/bo%C4%9Fazi%C3%A7inde-neler-oluyor-538ff624f85a
Source: https://medium.com/@bogazicindeneleroluyor/bo%C4%9Fazi%C3%A7inde-neler-oluyor-538ff624f85a
The timeline suggests that what started as a rejection of the appointment of a new rector at the University (following a change to the law in 2016 - complicated history, President Erdogan is allowed to do) - January 28 proved to be a key turning point that kicked things up a gear
Up until Jan 28 protests were largely calm
So what changed?
Artwork (left) displayed prominently at the protest site overlayed with a Zorastrian mythical figure over the Kabba, the Islamic holy site in Mecca. So what was the meaning of this?
So what changed?
Artwork (left) displayed prominently at the protest site overlayed with a Zorastrian mythical figure over the Kabba, the Islamic holy site in Mecca. So what was the meaning of this?
A display of feminine prowess over the patriarchy defeating a fictional religion (Islam). The LGBTQ+ community flags around the corners gave the impression who would contribute to that fight
Conservative Muslim students on campus, many of whom were also against the appointment of the new rector - asked the organisers to remove the offensive image
The response by the organiser of the artwork seemed to have effectively been “so what that you find the image offensive, that’s the point!”
NB: This seems to be have been a needless provocation and a seemingly unnecessary distraction
NB: This seems to be have been a needless provocation and a seemingly unnecessary distraction
Even one of the Bogazici professors was against it. He was quickly 'cancelled' by some of the students at the Uni for expressing anything less than total conformity.
The Professor, hardly an ally of the govt, was cast aside https://twitter.com/leventkurnaz/status/1355826954553995265?s=20
The Professor, hardly an ally of the govt, was cast aside https://twitter.com/leventkurnaz/status/1355826954553995265?s=20
"You have been Cancelled for being an unnecessary person. Neither your humanity nor the science you do has a value in our eyes" https://twitter.com/Dubitat_Infidel/status/1357279542725984258?s=20
The Universities Islamic Society spoke out against the artwork was viewed as offensive https://twitter.com/bisakboun/status/1355102661541044226?s=20
To recap: many if not all the student societies were not in favour of the rector's appointment. Even as I write this, I'm trying to understand why a group would prioritise a totally needless image. Maybe a case of identity politics...
Now it gets really dark.
The politicians get involved, the students of the artwork are arrested AND the students blame the students for the arrests. There is no evidence, I have seen, that students grassed other students to authorities!
The politicians get involved, the students of the artwork are arrested AND the students blame the students for the arrests. There is no evidence, I have seen, that students grassed other students to authorities!
Leftist student protestors decide to accuse the students objecting to the artwork of being 'terrorists'.
They create a blacklist of students who were against the artwork. Their names would be circulated to business in
& academic institutions abroad. They will be cancelled
They create a blacklist of students who were against the artwork. Their names would be circulated to business in
& academic institutions abroad. They will be cancelled
Bogazici professors as far I have seen have made no comment on students blacklisting other students; have not replied to emails of students seeking help, and have made no effort to condemn the blacklist - which doesn't bode well for student solidarity
Let's rewind a bit now. What *did* the students want to protest about and crucially what *didn't* they want to protest about?
When students join Bogazici they will all inevitably join one group known simply as "Bogazici Buddy" - where students help each other or discuss issues of concern. The private group also takes regular polls to decide on common action on issues of common concern
The majority of the students that voted decided the protests should focus on changing the rector. They seemingly declined to focus on LGBTQ+ or HDP issues
The opposition has pushed to make the fight a broader one - whereas the ruling govt has played the Turkish values card. And in the middle are the students
