14 students in Istanbul have been sentenced to prison terms in connection with protests against compulsory administration at universities. The students were charged with multiple offenses, including resisting law enforcement. The court issued sentences of six months each for violating the Assembly Act.

Two of the accused received additional prison sentences: the first to one and a half years - for damage to property, which according to the indictment amounted to around 50 euros. The second to one year and two months for allegedly insulting officials. The sentences were suspended.

The background to the proceedings are protests at the renowned Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. Since January 2021, students and practically the entire teaching staff there have been demanding to be able to appoint the rector of the university themselves. They opposed the appointment of the rector by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Instead of "forced administration" they demand democracy, autonomy and academic freedom.

In October 2021, numerous students protested the appointment of Naci Inci as rector of Boğaziçi University. The rector was prevented from entering the campus. One person had also climbed onto the car, according to the Istanbul governor's office at the time. It was physics student Berke Gök, who received the highest sentence in today's trial. In fact, he had been pushed in front of the moving vehicle by employees of a private security company, who were acting as police auxiliaries during the protests. In the dilemma between being pushed and risking being run over, he threw himself on top of the vehicle.

Gök was also one of two students who had to be held in custody for around three months as a result of the protest. In Turkey, several procedures are currently underway in connection with the protests at Boğaziçi University.