Istanbul Technical University (ITU) students organized a meeting called "Democratic Autonomy" as part of the “25th ITU Festival”. Sebahat Tuncel (Labour, Freedom and Democracy Block’s Independent Candidate for Istanbul 1st Region), Sýrrý Süreyya Önder (Candidate for Istanbul) and Istanbul Kurdish Institute President Sami Tan were invited as speakers. The guests however where considered "a problem" by the university’s rector who didn’t allow the discussion about the democratic autonomy saying that that “it is not proper for politicians to make a speech at a university shortly before elections”. Reacting to the last minute cancellation decision, students protested against the university administration and held the panel discussion on the front door of the university. Making the first speech at the improvised outdoor panel, Sýrrý Süreyya Onder condemned the management’s decision and said the followings; “Young people are those who will build the future of a country. Today, students could take their rights through the fair struggle they will give. Students have given s struggle in this country for many years and obtained many rights up to this date. And today, students will again get their rights that they were disposed of. Touching on the government's policies, Onder continued as follows; “The AKP claims that we can discuss about our problems and introduce our demands thanks to them. But it is a fact that this is already the right of the Kurds. With the discourse ‘we gave them their rights’, the government has ignored the struggle of the Kurdish people for years. This should be accepted now that Turkey is discussing about many things thanks to the struggle of the Kurds”.

Speaking after Onder, Sami Tan made an emphasis on the importance of mother-tongue education saying; “We the Kurds have given a fight for our mother language and culture for many years and we will keep giving fighting for them. This kind of prohibitions cannot prevent anyone”.

Sebahat Tuncel remarked that the decision of the administration is a sign of "how democratic the universities are”. Tuncel said the followings; “For many years and still, there has been a ban in this country on the discussion of the truths. One of the country's most important issues the country’s failure in providing scientific training for today's young people and representing them as tomorrow’s governors. Each act of students is prevented on different grounds. But as a first in the history of Turkey, YSK 's veto decision was withdrawn with the reaction displayed in Taksim. This is an achievement. Referring to the interventions on the Democratic Solution Tents put up by Kurds in many parts of Turkey within the framework of four demands, Tuncel continued as follows; “The year of 2011 has been the year of attack on solution tents. The Kurdish people put up the tents to express their four demands for their most basic rights and for the solution of the Kurdish problem but the attacks carried out is an indication of the intolerance to a solution”. Mentioning the Labour, Freedom and Democracy Block, Tuncel said; “The block which we created for the construction of democracy consists of Turks as well as Kurds. We will also give effort to include all circles to the struggle for democracy. And Erdogan should be answered by the peoples on June 12”.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil