22.05.2026 19:13
With the decision published in the Official Gazette, Istanbul Bilgi University's operating license has been revoked. Students and alumni, stating they were not informed in advance, began a protest on campus, saying "our right to education has been violated." As tensions rose when the administration locked the doors during the protest, the crowd waiting at the entrance moved into a sit-in protest in front of the rectorate after the locks were opened.
The revocation of Istanbul Bilgi University's operating license, following a decision published in the Official Gazette, was protested by students and alumni on campus. After the university administration locked the campus gate, students and alumni waited for a long time at the entrance, and when the gate was eventually opened, they held a sit-in protest in front of the rectorate building.
DECISION PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE
The operating license of Istanbul Bilgi University, which is part of Can Holding seized by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), has been revoked. The Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette stated: "It has been decided to revoke the operating license of Istanbul Bilgi University, whose founding foundation has been appointed a trustee, in accordance with Article 11 of Law No. 2547 on Higher Education."
STUDENTS GATHERED ON CAMPUS
Following the decision, students gathered on campus to protest the closure of the university and held a march. The starting point of the march was chosen as the front of the rectorate building. During the protests, students were seen demanding the reversal of the decision with slogans.
According to the students' statements, they were not given any prior information about the process and learned about the decision at the same time as the public.
CAMPUS GATE LOCKED
Many alumni also came to the campus to support the protests. However, according to the students' claims, the university administration locked the campus gate, preventing students from leaving and alumni from entering.
Students gathered in front of the gate chanted slogans such as "Bilgi is ours, it will remain ours," "Rights, law, justice," and "Either all together or none of us." During the protest, police made announcements warning that some slogans were illegal.
GATE OPENED, SIT-IN BEGAN
After a while, the gate was opened thanks to the efforts of students, faculty members, and alumni. Subsequently, students, alumni, and union representatives marched together to the front of the rectorate building.
Following statements made there, the group started a sit-in protest.
STUDENTS: OUR RIGHT TO EDUCATION HAS BEEN USURPED
In a statement made by the students, it was argued that the closure of the university affects not only students but also academics, administrative staff, and employees.
The statement noted that with the suspension of activities, the contracts of many academics, employees, and workers have been terminated, and that the decision has serious consequences for the right to education.
The students also stated that they will continue to preserve the academic and social structure the university has built in the past and declared that they do not accept the closure decision.
UNION STATEMENT: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED
The Teachers' Union also issued a statement arguing that the decision affects not only an educational institution but also a broad segment of society, including students, academics, and employees.
The statement emphasized that universities are not just physical spaces and called for the protection of the right to education and the transparent conduct of the process.
The union listed its demands as: the reversal of the closure decision, the process being conducted transparently to the public, and the announcement of guarantees for students and employees.