Student detention photo criticized, as minister says three terror acts linked

ANKARA

“Throughout our history, people have always tried to create a perception that there is a weakness in the management. This usually happens when there are strong governments running in the elections,” Avcı said. AA Photo

The three recent terror acts in Istanbul that have shaken Turkey are linked under a “master plan,” Education Minister Nabi Avcı has claimed, while a photo showing university students being detained by the police has been criticized.

“We know that these acts of terror were carried out mostly by subcontractors. We know that these kinds of organizations are prone to mercenary operations. That is why we can say that these operations were carried out considering the upcoming the elections,” Avcı told Anadolu Agency in an interview on April 2. 

The terror acts that he was referring to are attacks on the Istanbul Courthouse that left one prosecutor dead, the attack on the AKP’s office in Istanbul’s Kartal district, and the attempted armed attack on the Istanbul Police Headquarters. The first and third of these attacks were carried out by members of the outlawed far-left Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C), whose three terrorists were also killed by the police. 

“Throughout our history, people have always tried to create a perception that there is a weakness in the management. This usually happens when there are strong governments running in the elections,” Avcı said.
 
“Now they are trying to create a sense of insecurity in the public opinion and with citizens on the street … We cannot deny the psychological effect of terror on citizens, and that is why these events have taken place before the elections,” he added.

More than 20 students at Istanbul University were detained on suspicion of helping the courthouse attack. A photo showing them laying on the floor of the university building handcuffed behind the back was widely criticized on social media April 2. Quoting one of the students, Bianet news website reported April 2 that the students waited in handcuffs for nine hours before they testified.

Tensions have also risen after a new body search process was implemented by security forces on lawyers entering Istanbul’s Çağlayan courthouse after the death of the prosecutor.

Following the hostage situation in the courthouse, security forces began searching lawyers with hand detectors, while angered lawyers have demanded to speak directly with a prosecutor on the issue. Since the implementation of the new procedure lawyers and security forces have occasionally clashed, as many lawyers have been forced to wait in a long queue outside the courthouse.

In addition, the lawyers denounced the new regulation, saying it is illegal to search lawyers with hand detectors and X-ray equipment.