Students protest fatal car crash in front of Turkish state-run dorm in Aksaray

Duvar English

Students staying at a state-run dormitory in Turkey’s central Aksaray province protested the lack of traffic measures in the dormitory’s vicinity after a car crash killed university student Mine Nur Uysal as she was crossing the street to go to her dorm.

The accident took place on the evening of Dec. 3, and Uysal was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was detained, according to reporting by the Demirören News Agency (DHA). 

Upon hearing the news of the accident, university students residing at the state-run dormitories in Aksaray convened to protest negligence by the Student Loans and Dormitories Institution (KYK).

The Movement of the Unsheltered (“Barınamıyoruz”) shared the moments of protest on its social media accounts. “Everyone who ignored our complaints did not take precautions despite previous incidents, or deny us of a mere overpass or street lights bear the responsibility of this accident,” read their post. 

The students organized a protest on Dec. 4 in front of the Aksaray Municipality and demanded accountability from all responsible officials.

"We will not wait for our turn," said the students.

Institutional neglect at Turkey’s state-run dormitories has been in the spotlight after the Oct. 26 elevator crash in the Aydın province that killed 22-year-old Zeren Ertaş. Students staying at state-run dormitories around the country protested the poor living conditions in their facilities. 

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