Istanbul students protest despite ban after Erdogan win

Students and academics protested at Turkey’s top university Friday, defying a ban on the near 900-day strike imposed after President Recip Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected for five more years.

They turned their backs in front of the Erdogan-appointed rector’s office for the 880th day on Friday – a routine protest that has been going on since January 2021.

Authorities on Thursday banned any protest at the university – a decision that came after the veteran strongman won the election run-off on Sunday and secured another five years as president.

“The ban has no legal ground,” said associate professor Ahmet Ersoy.