A “silent walk” was held on the university campus by the Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Psychology Student Society to react to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and to support the protests for Palestine held at various universities in the USA and Europe.
In the walk, attended by HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, HKU Board of Trustees Member Prof. Dr. Necip Fazıl Yılmaz, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lütfi Yola, HKU Secretary General Ümit Şahnaoğlu, deans, academic and administrative staff and students, participants carried banners and placards reading: “Palestine and East Turkestan are not alone!”, “Say stop to this cruelty!”, “The place where humanity died: Palestine”, “One cannot stay silent while children die”, “O world, how many more children must die?”, “There is genocide in Gaza!”
In his statement after the walk, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli stated that, as Hasan Kalyoncu University, they were once again declaring to the whole world that they do not remain silent about the suffering of the Palestinian people and that they stand by them in their struggle for justice and freedom. Psychology Student Society President Şeyma Akkuş and Vice President Halide Tüter also stated that, as psychology students, they could not remain spectators to the inhumane traumas taking place in Palestine, which cannot be explained with the psychopathology courses they have taken. The prepared press statement was read by Asst. Prof. Dr. Saadet Öztürk, faculty member of the Department of Psychology, HKU Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences. The press statement included the following:
“As Hasan Kalyoncu University, the purpose of our gathering here today is to say a strong ‘STOP’ together to the cruelty and genocide committed by Israel in Palestine, to stand against cruelty! Today, we have come together here to stand by the Palestinian people and to support their rightful demands for freedom and justice. It is very clear that the events taking place in the Palestinian lands are an injustice and cruelty committed against humanity. Israeli expansionism, which since 1948 has subjected millions of innocent Palestinians to forced displacement, hunger and death, has become a picture of shame, a “genocide”, since 7 October 2023. In the attacks that have lasted 214 days, 35 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives in attacks carried out by Israel. We observe with sorrow that a genocide is taking place in which 35 thousand lives, without distinction of child, woman, man, young, old or disabled, have been slaughtered by Israeli barbarity, thousands of people have been driven from their homes and homeland, and babies in cradles have died under the rubble as a result of bombardments. With the walk and this press statement we are holding today, we once again show that we stand by the Palestinian people and emphasise the power of solidarity. Demanding justice for humanity is our fundamental responsibility, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to fulfil this responsibility. We call on the international community, human rights defenders and everyone to come together to ensure justice, so that the injustices done to the Palestinian people come to an end and a peaceful solution is achieved. Let us not forget that peace and justice are only possible with solidarity and determination.”
