19.07.2026 00:30
At the graduation ceremony of Istanbul Bilgi University for the 2025-2026 academic year, Rector Prof. Dr. Ege Yazgan, who took the podium to give a speech, was protested by students. During the ceremony, many students turned their backs to the rector, while chants of "Trustee rector" were heard in the venue and a whistling protest took place.
During the graduation ceremony of Istanbul Bilgi University's Faculty of Social and Human Sciences and Faculty of Communication, a protest action was carried out by students while Rector Prof. Dr. M. Ege Yazgan was speaking. Yazgan, who took the stage to deliver the opening speech before the diploma ceremony, left the podium without completing his speech following the protests.
STUDENTS TURNED THEIR BACKS TO THE STAGE
As Rector Yazgan took the stage, students from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences and the Faculty of Communication stood up and turned their backs to the stage. During the action, the students chanted slogans such as "trustee rector." Some families and participants in the stands supported the students with applause.
RECTOR CUT HIS SPEECH SHORT
The rector's speech was inaudible due to the rising sounds of whistling, booing, and applause in the ceremony area. As the reactions continued, Prof. Dr. M. Ege Yazgan cut his speech short and left the stage.
After the rector's departure, the students continued the protest with applause for a while, and then proceeded with the diploma ceremony.