Turkey: Police raid CHP headquarters – Erdoğan reverses university closure
Turkish riot police have stormed the headquarters of the opposition CHP party in Ankara and ousted deposed party leader Özel. At the same time, President Erdoğan revoked a decree closing Bilgi University in Istanbul.
Police storm CHP headquarters in Ankara
Turkish riot police have forcibly stormed the headquarters of Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP, in Ankara. According to Deutsche Welle, the officers were executing a court ruling from Thursday that had removed CHP chairman Özgür Özel from his position. The officers deployed tear gas and broke through a barricade erected by Özel's supporters in front of the building. These supporters threw objects at police.
After the operation, Özel left the party building. Before cheering supporters, he declared: "We will march to the seats of power." Accompanied by supporters, he headed towards parliament – where police halted the procession. In a video message, Özel described the incident as a police attack.
Court removes Özel and reinstates Kılıçdaroğlu
The trigger for the police operation was a court ruling that declared Özel's election as CHP chair two and a half years ago invalid. The court justified the annulment citing alleged irregularities: Özel had allegedly applied pressure or promised lucrative positions during the delegate election in November 2023, the ruling stated. He was replaced by former party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Özel condemned the ruling as a "judicial coup". The case was originally dismissed in October but was then reopened – brought by a former party member.
On Saturday, Turkish authorities also announced the arrest of 13 CHP members. They are accused of interfering in the party leadership election two and a half years ago.
Özel immediately demanded that a new party congress be held. Kılıçdaroğlu, meanwhile, stated that a party congress would take place at an "appropriate" time.
Experts view ruling as test for Turkish democracy
Experts view the ruling as a test for the rule of law in Turkey, which is a NATO and Council of Europe member. The decision could extend the 23-year rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AK Party. The next regular election is scheduled for 2028; however, it would have to be brought forward if 72-year-old Erdoğan wants to run again due to term limits.
Human Rights Watch described the ruling as the "latest blow against the rule of law, democracy and human rights" in Turkey. It accused the Erdoğan government of employing "abusive tactics" against the CHP. The government rejects such allegations and emphasises the independence of the judiciary.
Under Özel's leadership, the CHP had achieved a surprising victory in the 2024 municipal election, winning the most mayoral offices in the country. Since then, numerous opposition politicians have been arrested in the course of terror and corruption investigations – including former Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Bilgi University: closure ordered and then revoked
Parallel to this, another institution came under scrutiny by the state apparatus. President Erdoğan ordered by decree the closure of the liberal-leaning Bilgi University in Istanbul and revoked its operating licence. He cited an allegedly "inadequate" standard of education as justification.
Hundreds of students and lecturers subsequently demonstrated on campus on Sunday against the decision. Some students occupied the university; police removed them from the building. One participant reported that police officers had grabbed students by their hands and feet and thrown them out. A student suffered a broken nose bone in the process.
That Sunday evening, Erdoğan reversed the closure order. A corresponding decree was published in the Turkish official gazette. The university website stated that the decision to continue operations had been made to protect students' right to education.
Founded in 1996, the university has more than 20,000 students and had previously participated in the European Union's Erasmus programme. The university recently came under court administration due to allegations involving money laundering and tax fraud.
Source: Deutsche Welle