We Defend Young People’s Constitutional Rights and Democratic Demands

The recent developments in Türkiye, especially the protests that started with the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, have once again demonstrated the will of young people to exercise their democratic rights.

Young people use their constitutional rights to express their thoughts peacefully and try to make their voices heard at universities, on the streets and in digital media. However, the pressures, detentions and interventions on campuses that young people face in this process raise serious concerns in terms of freedom of expression and democratic participation.

As the Arayüz Campaign, we advocate increasing the representation power of young people and their equal and fair participation in political processes. In this context, we emphasize the need to protect universities as spaces for democratic debate, guarantee the constitutional rights of young people and ensure the rule of law for all citizens.

The expression of democratic demands by young people is not a crime, but a civil right. Criminalizing this right harms not only the future of young people, but the future of society as a whole.

We publicly declare that we stand by all forms of peaceful and legitimate participation and reaction by young people; we call on all authorities to act within constitutional limits, to listen to the voices of young people and to adopt an attitude that respects social peace.

Arayüz Campaign