Boğaziçi University bans event with main opposition CHP deputy head Böke

Rifat Başaran - ANKARA

An event due to host a speech by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Selin Sayek Böke at Istanbul’s prestigious Boğaziçi University has been cancelled by the authorities.

Böke had been due to give a speech on March 19 at the Boğaziçi Administration and Leadership Summit to be held by the university’s Business and Economy Club.

“The university’s rectorate stated that it would be more suitable for me to not attend, so we cannot meet,” Böke announced.  

Boğaziçi University issued a statement claiming that the meeting program had received approval without the inclusion of Böke’s name, and she was added to the program after approval was given.

The university also stated that it had made a decision to “not host any political events” until April 17, which is the day after the referendum on shifting Turkey to an executive presidential system of government.

Meanwhile, a planned speech from former CHP deputy Aylin Nazlıaka has also been cancelled by Bilgi University.

Independent deputy Nazlıaka was due to speak at a “No to violence against women” event.

Nazlıaka said the rector of Bilgi University had stated that the event was canceled because he was under “intense pressure.”  

“They wanted to block a meeting with the youth at Bilgi University. The rector called me and said ‘I’m under intense pressure, I’m sorry,” she posted on her Twitter account.

Bilgi University rector Ege Yazgan responded by saying the meeting had not received the necessary security clearance.

“The cancelation of a meeting that was not allowed anyway is beside the point. [In the original program] it was not stated that Aylin Nazlıaka would come. We learned she would come via Twitter. If a lawmaker is to make a speech, security precautions should be made,” Yazgan said, also denying that he told Nazlıaka that he was under pressure.