Academics, student communities, and students of our university organised a march on May 6, 2024, in response to the Israeli attacks on Palestine and in support of students organising solidarity demonstrations at universities in the USA and many other countries.
Organized by our university, the “Turkey, Together with Other Campuses Around the World, March for Palestine” event was held with the participation of our Rector Prof. Dr Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr Ömer Küçük and Prof. Dr Kasım Yenigün and Prof. Dr Mehmet Atalan, Secretary General Şevket Bahçacıoğlu, deans, academics, administrative staff, student communities, and students.
Within the framework of the event “Turkey, Together with Other Campuses Around the World, Marching for Palestine," student communities, students, and academics of our university came together in front of the Faculty of Theology.
To condemn the inhuman and unlawful genocide in Palestine and to protest against the university administrations, official authorities, and especially the security forces against the peaceful protests in universities in the USA, they came together. They marched with Turkish and Palestinian flags, Turkish and English-written banners, and placards in front of the Central Dining Hall, chanting slogans against Israel.
After the march that ended in front of the Central Dining Hall, Taha Kanbolat, one of the preparatory year students of the Faculty of Theology, made a press statement on behalf of the group and said that they condemned the attacks against the groups supporting Palestine in the world.
In his statement, Taha Kanbolat said that as Kastamonu University students, faculty members, and members, while greeting all humanity who raise their voices against oppression, they condemn Israel and its supporters, who deserve the adjectives of cruel, murderous, and genocidal to the fullest.
Taha Kanbolat concluded his speech by saying, “As Kastamonu University, we want this genocide and occupation in Gaza to be stopped, the region to be left to its owners, and all humanitarian aid waiting at the border to enter the region and Gaza to be reconstructed as soon as possible to prevent major disasters. We condemn those who committed the biggest massacre and genocide of the century and those who support them, and we declare that we stand by the academics and students of the world who listen to the voice of conscience to stop this genocide.”
After the press statement, a prayer was offered for the Palestinian people. The event was followed by a short video presentation about the experiences of the people living in Gaza. Then, the students visited the open-air exhibition about the genocide in Palestine.
