Two more detained for ‘insulting Erdoğan’ at ODTÜ graduation ceremony

ANKARA

The number of people detained by police for placards they carried at the graduation ceremony of the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) in Ankara has risen to five.

Two people accused of preparing and printing the placard that was deemed as “insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan” were detained on July 8, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Three people were detained on July 7 with the same charges, according to a statement by the Ankara Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Students carried placards with political messages during ODTÜ’s graduation ceremony on July 6, as part of the 62-year-old university’s tradition.

A number of placards referred to the June 24 elections won by Erdoğan, criticizing the government and supporting the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce.

Student leader also detained

Meanwhile, another investigation has been launched into the placards criticizing ODTÜ’s Rector Verşan Kök, according to Turkish media reports.

Students’ Representative Council (ÖTK) chair Özgür Mehmet Gür and other students were detained on July 8.

In total, 12 students were called to give testimony.

İnce postpones visit

İnce, who lost the race to Erdoğan in the June 24 elections, postponed his visit to the ODTÜ Alumni Association that was supposed to take place on July 8.

“Our activity to meet with the ODTÜ students at the ODTÜ Alumni Association has been postponed to a future date due to the detention of the ÖTK chair and other developments,” he tweeted on July 8.