Probe launched into university students for inflating balloons, planting trees

Some 15 university students at the Ege University in İzmir were called to testify in two separate investigations for charges of inflating balloons, planting trees and dancing the halay between March 10 and 12, daily Cumhuriyet reported on April 13.

The first investigation document, which bears the signature of Vice Rector and Head of the Investigation and Inquisition Council Prof. Atilla Silkü, stated a disciplinary probe was launched against students who had gathered inside the garden of the Literature Faculty on March 10 to plant trees, conduct a sit-in protest and dance the halay. 

The second investigation document stated on March 12, a group of 15 students had inflated balloons and prepared placards on A4-sized papers and hung these placards on poles in front of the cafeteria and an enclosed construction area. 

The students were expected to testify about the allegations against them between May 4 and 6. 

Ali İhsan Uğuz, the father of Tuana Uğuz, one of the 15 students being investigated, said he thought there was no university which would count the imputed claims as a crime. 

“I believe there is no other university [in the world] where inflating a balloon and planting trees would count as a crime,” Uğuz said.