18.09.2025 16:21
Students returning to their rooms after renovations at the Cevizlibağ Atatürk KYK Girls' Dormitory in Istanbul reported that their belongings had been looted and that they even found used condoms in their rooms. One of the students who contacted Haberler.com claimed that the dormitory staff blamed the victims by saying, "If you hadn't left your belongings." The ministry announced that they have initiated an administrative investigation regarding the matter.
Students returning to the Cevizlibağ Atatürk KYK Girls' Dormitory in Istanbul after renovations during the summer period uncovered a major scandal. The students reported serious damage, theft, and harassment incidents in their rooms.
USED CONDOM FOUND Students stated that workers stayed in their rooms during the renovations, that furniture was broken, alcohol bottles were left behind, and even drawings were made on underwear, with some items being stolen.
One of the students who wrote to the News.com WhatsApp Tip Line mentioned that they found a used condom in their room, saying, "Alcohol was consumed in the rooms, bottles were left behind, and worst of all, disgusting acts were committed against students' underwear and bras, and some were stolen. One student even found a used condom thrown on top of their belongings in their room. After encountering all this filth, the students went to the dormitory administration for an explanation, but instead of providing a proper response, the officials' first reaction was to blame the victim, saying, 'If you hadn't left your belongings, this wouldn't have happened to you.'"
"WORKERS ENTER ROOMS WITHOUT PERMISSION" The message emphasized that there was no supervision during the renovation process and that workers freely entered the rooms: "There was no security in the dormitory. Workers roamed the floors as they pleased, entering rooms without knocking. One of our friends was undressing when a worker barged into the room. Another person's computer was stolen from their locked cabinet, and it was later found in the administration, but no explanation was given. When we wanted to check the cameras, we were told they were not working."
"WE JUST WANT TO STAY SAFE" The student stated that what happened was unacceptable, saying, "There is no security in one of Turkey's largest KYK dormitories, there is no supervision, and the administration is indifferent. We just want to stay safely and peacefully."
Here is the message sent by the student to our WhatsApp Tip Line: Our dormitory underwent a renovation process during the summer. This renovation process is still ongoing, and during this time, the girls' rooms, belongings, and privacy have been damaged in many ways. Students who went to the dormitory, which opened late under the pretext of renovation, noticed that workers stayed in their rooms throughout the summer. The rooms were misused, state property was damaged, and many things that violate KYK dormitory rules were done.
To elaborate further; the furniture in the rooms has been seriously damaged (the head of the nightstand has been removed/broken, a bed frame has been broken in half, and many room cabinet handles, shelves, and other parts are broken). Alcohol was consumed in the rooms, and bottles were left behind. Worst of all, disgusting acts were committed against students' underwear and bras, and some were stolen. One of the students even found a used condom thrown on top of their belongings in their room.
After encountering all this filth, the students went to the dormitory administration for an explanation, but instead of providing a proper response, the officials' first reaction was to blame the victim, saying, "If you hadn't left your belongings, this wouldn't have happened to you." Students who left their belongings are upset not about their items being discarded, but about being openly looted and harassed. However, the authorities act as if all the blame lies with the students to cover up this looting and harassment.
While all this was happening during the summer, it was acknowledged by the administration itself that no one was supervising the workers, and there was no security, with statements like "There were no officials in the dormitory during the summer; they went to the on-duty dormitories due to renovations" and "There is not enough security to keep an eye on everyone." In short, during this renovation process, the dormitory was completely left to the workers without supervision.
When we asked why the students' rooms were given to the workers, we received many different answers, as no one was even aware of the situation: "Only a part stayed, for a short time," "They only stayed in blocks 1 and 5," "The number of workers constantly changed, sometimes there were 200, sometimes 500 workers. They worked day and night to finish the renovation, that's why they stayed."
Despite working day and night for 3 months, this renovation, which has not been completed, has resulted in our card-access doors being replaced with unlocked doors (earthquake and fire-resistant doors have been installed). In some rooms, only the tiles have been renewed. All these renovations cover five blocks of seven floors.
Unfortunately, our grievances do not end with all this. Since the renovation is still ongoing, there are many workers in the dormitory, and they are freely roaming everywhere. Thanks to the unlocked doors, they can barge in wherever they want. They go up to the floors alone without any warning, entering rooms without even knocking. One of our friends was undressing when a worker entered their room without knocking, and when our friend reacted, they did not leave until they were kicked out. Another student's computer was taken from their locked cabinet, and it was later found in the administration, but no explanation was given.
We are being victimized in so many ways… The rooms were handed over to the students without being cleaned after the renovation; they were filled with construction debris, cigarette butts, dirty belongings left by workers, and poorly maintained common areas. While a single student could be expelled for doing what I just described, our administration remains silent, indifferent, and adopts an attitude that blames the victim against all these incidents.
When students wanted to check the camera recordings, they were sent back with the excuse that "they are not working." In the middle of Istanbul, in one of Turkey's largest KYK dormitories, the cameras are not working; security is careless, there is no supervision, and the administration is indifferent.
We just want to shelter safely and peacefully. For this, we want to make our voices heard.
MINISTRY: AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED The Ministry of Youth and Sports made a statement regarding the images and claims circulating in the press and social media about the Istanbul Atatürk Student Dormitory.
In the statement made by the ministry, it was stated, "The images and claims regarding the Istanbul Atatürk Student Dormitory that have appeared in the press and social media are being closely monitored by our Ministry. The situation in question is unacceptable, and it is understood that it occurred during a period when the dormitory was closed for service, undergoing renovation works, and no students were present. An administrative investigation has been immediately initiated regarding the incident, and the matter has been referred to judicial authorities. All necessary actions regarding those responsible are being carried out meticulously. It is announced to the public with respect."