A graduation protest in Turkey has gone viral, after a Boğaziçi University student tore up his diploma on stage in defiance of government interference in academic life. The incident marks a symbolic moment in a broader wave of student-led demonstrations across the country.
Graduation ceremonies this year have taken on a political tone, as students used their platform to challenge authoritarian practices and threats to academic freedom. The graduation protest in Turkey was sparked by growing concern over the possible annulment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s degree, a move that has raised doubts about the validity of higher education qualifications nationwide.
During ceremonies in Istanbul, graduates were heard chanting: “We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal”, a reference to the founder of modern Turkey. The slogan quickly spread across social media, symbolising a wider youth backlash against the government’s attempts to control academic institutions.
The protest at Boğaziçi University, long known for resistance to politically appointed rectors, became the most symbolic. Doruk Dorukcu, a top sociology graduate, refused to accept his diploma from the state-appointed rector, instead recognising only the democratically elected university leadership. His on-stage protest triggered applause and outrage in equal measure.
This degree is invalid,” he said, before tearing up his diploma. “I reject the regime that cancels diplomas and shuts down schools.”
While some applauded his stance, others reacted with anger, with one attendee shouting: “We came for a graduation, not political speeches!” The moment reignited debate over academic freedom and political pressure within Turkish higher education.
This latest demonstration highlights deepening fractures between students and state authority in Turkish universities, and reflects broader concerns about freedom, legitimacy, and the future of democratic institutions.
Read also: İmamoğlu arrest protests spark violent clashes in Istanbul
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