MERSİN - Both the university and the prosecutor's office started an investigation against 9 students who did not stand up and participate in the national anthem in Mersin University during the 'solidarity' event for the 'Peace Spring Operation'. The 9 students in question were suspended from school for a month.
An investigation was launched against 9 students on the grounds that they did not stand up and participate in the national anthem during the event, held in 'solidarity' with the 'Peace Spring Operation'. Following the investigation Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched against the students on grounds of 'public humiliation for the National Anthem', the university started its own investigation against the students on grounds of 'humiliating the state's sovereignity'. The university suspended the students for a month.
Again, the University's Credit Dormitories Institution (KYK) Male Dormitory opened an administrative investigation about the Student Collective member Hüseyin Kartal, who is among 9 students, and sacked him off the dormitory.
One of the students being investigated, Elmas Kara, drawing attention to the day of the event, said: "We did not know about the event. The national anthem started. We continued to sit outside the event area without being involved. Both the administrative and judicial investigation was opened with the police informing the authorities about us. It is a democratic right to attend an event, it is a democratic right not to attend. These investigations are unlawful. Let's get back from this mistake as soon as possible."