Government to form new guard unit to protect universities, stadiums

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A new unit will be formed to 'protect' stadiums and universities, Interior Minister Muammer Güler has announced.

The Turkish government will hire 10,000 people to form a special security force, particularly to protect universities and stadiums, which are currently protected by private security guards, according to Interior Minister Muammer Güler has announced.

Güler said they would form a new unit for the protection of stadiums and universities, daily HaberTürk reported on May 20.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the police would replace private security in stadiums and universities on the final day of his Washington visit.

“We will remove private security [from stadiums and universities]. It is becoming a 'sham fight,'” Erdoğan said.

Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay said the issue had been debated at the last Cabinet meeting. “Our government has such an intention. You know lately some student protests have taken place in universities. We will never permit these. We will not allow anyone to stir up life at universities,” said Atalay upon a question about Erdoğan’s remarks, according to Anatolia news agency. Atalay said the issue was still being debated and could be implemented with a regulation without any legal amendments.

Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kılıç also said the special police forces might replace private security guards in the universities and stadiums.

Kılıç said on May 19 that special police forces might work at university campuses, state-owned dormitories, stadiums and indoor sport halls instead of private security guards. The security of stadiums and universities could not be sufficiently protected by private security guards, he added.

Kılıç said fans often threw objects onto the field at football matches and some of these objects were forbidden. “This means the regulations are unable to be enforced by private security guards,” he said.

Kılıç also revealed that this new regulation might enter into force for the new football season, adding that the Interior Ministry and Security General Directorate would soon be taking steps on the issue.