Turkiye shutters liberal Istanbul university seized in criminal probe

Lead

Turkey has revoked the operating license of Istanbul Bilgi University, a prominent private institution known for its liberal values, effectively forcing it to close in the middle of the academic year. The decree, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and published in the Official Gazette on Friday, comes after the university was seized by the state in a criminal investigation last year. However, following days of student protests, Erdogan reversed the decision, according to a report from Al Jazeera on May 26, 2026.

Coverage Comparison

The initial closure was reported by Al Jazeera and Dawn, both citing the presidential decree and the law that allows for closure if "the expected level of education and training… is insufficient." The reversal was reported by Al Jazeera in a separate article, which noted that students celebrated after the decision was reversed. The reports do not provide details on the timeline between the closure and the reversal, nor do they specify the number of arrests during the police crackdown mentioned in the reversal report.

Key Claims

• Turkey revoked the operational license of Istanbul Bilgi University, effective immediately, as per a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette. This claim is supported by multiple sources.
• The university was seized by the state in a criminal investigation last year, following a money laundering and tax fraud investigation involving its parent company, Can Holding. This claim is reported by both Al Jazeera and Dawn.
• The closure was reversed by President Erdogan after days of protests and a police crackdown, according to Al Jazeera. This claim is carried by a single source and has not been independently verified.
• Students will continue their education at Mimar Sinan University, the university's guarantor school, as reported by Turkish media and cited by Al Jazeera.
• Istanbul Bilgi University has an estimated 20,000 students and participates in the European Union's Erasmus exchange programme, according to multiple sources.

Perspectives

Government Perspective: The closure was justified under a law allowing for the closure of private institutions if education standards are insufficient. The Council of Higher Education promised measures to ensure students suffer no harm.

Student Perspective: Students protested the closure, holding banners with slogans like "This is just the beginning, the struggle continues," and celebrated when the decision was reversed.

Academic/International Perspective: The university is known for its liberal politics and international student body, making the closure significant for academic freedom and international exchange.