Turkish campus security guards batter students for decorating New Year’s tree

Duvar English

Private security at Turkey’s Istanbul University on Dec. 18 brutally attacked students who wanted to decorate a New Year’s tree at the campus. 

Some students were injured as a result of the attack, according to the videos shared by the student newspaper on X. 

Istanbul University security chief Kenan Arslan was also among the perpetrators of the attack. Security guards including him also insulted students carrying decorations.

The campus security reportedly stated that the reason of the attack was "not getting permission."

The campus security do not have the authority to physically intervene students and the university rectorate has to invite police officially to the campus in case of "the occurrence of incidents that cannot be prevented by the means of the university," or "prosecution of criminals."

Recently, students at Istanbul’s Yıldız Technical University (YTU) in Istanbul were threatened by an Islamist group that also sent gun photos to the students who decorated a tree on campus. While the ornaments were constantly removed, the students have continued to decorate the tree. 

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