Students arrested in Turkey for protesting Education Minister Yusuf Tekin

Two university students, Nevin Tekin and Nehir Dizdar, have been arrested in Istanbul following a protest against National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin. The students, members of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), hung a banner at Kadıköy High School reading, “If there is no future for us, there is no peace for you, Yusuf Tekin resign!”

A judge ruled that the phrase “no peace for you” constituted a direct threat to the Minister's peace and liberty, leading to their detention and transfer to Bakırköy Women's Prison. The students' legal defense and various political groups, including the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH), have criticized the arrest, arguing that the banner was a form of democratic expression and political criticism rather than a physical threat.

In response to the arrests, students at Galatasaray University held a demonstration, hanging identical banners on campus and leaving empty chairs in classrooms to symbolize the detained students. Protesters continue to call for the release of Tekin and Dizdar, citing concerns over freedom of expression and criticizing the Ministry's educational policies.