Protests for İlayda Zorlu in Ankara and Istanbul Met With Police Intervention, Arrests Made

In Ankara and Istanbul, university students took to the streets to protest the tragic death of İlayda Zorlu, a student at Karadeniz Technical University. Zorlu died after being shot by her police officer father's service weapon in Hatay. The protests, organized by youth organizations, were met with a harsh police response.

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Our fellow student İlayda Zorlu did not commit suicide, she was murdered by the state!

In Ankara, students attempting to hold a press conference on Yüksel Street were dispersed by police using tear gas, resulting in numerous arrests. Similarly, in Istanbul, a planned demonstration in Kadıköy's Bahariye neighborhood was met with a forceful intervention by riot police. Several students were detained and taken to police vehicles.

The student group Öğrenci Kolektifleri issued a strong statement, asserting that İlayda Zorlu did not commit suicide but was "murdered by the state." They criticized the government's policies, arguing that instead of addressing issues like poverty and violence, the authorities label legitimate demands for free education as "terrorism." The group believes this creates a climate of fear that can lead to violence against young people, culminating in tragedies like Zorlu's death.

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Thousands of university students who say 'Enough is enough!' against injustice and unlawfulness are fighting for free education today.

From the perspective of Cumhuriyet, this incident is not just a personal tragedy but a stark illustration of systemic issues. The government's heavy-handed response to student protests, labeling their demands as terrorism, reflects a broader pattern of suppressing dissent. While international media might focus on the immediate event, Cumhuriyet highlights the underlying socio-political context: the increasing poverty forcing students to struggle for education, the pervasive violence, and the state's role in exacerbating these problems. The forceful dispersal of protests and the arrests underscore a government more interested in maintaining control than addressing the root causes of public discontent.

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Instead of finding solutions to these problems, instead of listening to the demands of thousands of young people who do not want to live in poverty, the government assigns police officers and tries to declare all their rightful demands guilty with the label 'Terrorism'.