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A group protesting a conference featuring Nurettin Yildiz, a Turkish preacher known for his controversial statements, attacked riot police officers at Bogazici University on Tuesday. Thirteen officers sustained minor injuries, and 97 individuals were taken into custody.
The conference, titled "Islamic Sciences: For Whom, How Much?", was organized by the Bogazici University Islamic Studies Club (BISAK) and held in Istanbul. Nurettin Yildiz participated as the keynote speaker. Prior to the event, a protest march was held against Yildiz, prompting police to take security measures on campus.
At around 8:45 p.m. local time, a group gathered at the university’s North Campus attempted to obstruct the student club's activities. Police warned the group to disperse, but the protesters ignored the warnings and attacked officers from the Istanbul Police Department's Riot Squad. Thirteen officers were lightly injured during the assault. A total of 97 demonstrators — 39 of them women — were taken into custody. Authorities stated that the individuals remain under police custody as their processing continues.
Nurettin Yildiz previously drew national outrage in Türkiye after stating that “girls as young as seven can be married.” In a 2015 broadcast, he said: “According to our Islamic Sharia, there is no age limit for marriage. What does this mean? A child can be married even before puberty. A marriage can be conducted between children, or between a child and an adult. For example, can a seven-year-old girl marry a 25-year-old man, or a seven-year-old boy marry a 25-year-old woman? Let’s say, can they be wed? The term ‘wed’ is more sensitive than ‘marriage.’ Yes, there is no objection to their being wed.” His comments led to widespread backlash and accusations of promoting pedophilia.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office confirmed that the group which gathered at Bogazici University assaulted police officers, resulting in minor injuries to 13 officers and the detention of 97 protesters.
In a statement, the Governor’s Office said: “This evening, a group gathered at Bogazici University’s North Campus and moved to obstruct the activities of a student club. The group attacked Riot Police units. As a result of the attack, 13 police officers sustained minor injuries. During the incidents, 97 protesters — 39 women and 58 men — were taken into custody. Necessary security measures have been taken within and around the university, and the detained individuals’ processing is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, Bogazici University announced that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against those responsible for the protest and that criminal complaints will be filed through the relevant departments.
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