Hundreds protest detention of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk in US

Hundreds of people gathered in Massachusetts on Wednesday to protest the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

The protest was organized by the “Palestine Liberation Coalition” activist group, with demonstrators calling for Ozturk’s immediate release.

Carrying signs reading “Free Rumeysa” and “We Stand with Rumeysa,” the protestors gathered at Powder House Park, demanding that the Turkish student be freed.

Ozturk detained by ICE on March 25

Rumeysa Ozturk, who is pursuing her PhD at Tufts University, was detained by ICE officers on March 25 as she left her home in Massachusetts to attend an iftar dinner during Ramadan.

A video captured the moment when ICE officers handcuffed her behind her back, as Ozturk can be heard voicing her objections.

Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, stated that she had not been able to contact her client following the detention, and Tufts University also confirmed in a written statement that the university administration had not been informed about the arrest.

CAIR condemns detention

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed its concern over Ozturk’s detention.

In a statement from CAIR’s Massachusetts office, Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud described the detention as “deeply concerning” and a direct attack on free speech.

“Federal authorities are resorting to ruthless methods to silence those who oppose the United States’ complicity in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people,” Amatul-Wadud said. She called for Ozturk’s immediate release.

The detention has drawn attention in the context of increasing pressure on pro-Palestinian students and academics under the Trump administration. Similar arrests have occurred previously, including the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University.

Ozturk’s detention sparks broader criticism

The protest follows growing concerns over the treatment of pro-Palestinian students in the U.S.

Ozturk, who co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts Daily urging the university to recognize the Palestinian genocide, has faced a backlash from some groups that label her as supporting Hamas. However, her supporters deny these allegations, pointing out that her activism has been focused on human rights and peace in the region.

The detention of Ozturk has been condemned as an example of the broader repression of free speech and academic freedom, particularly in relation to Palestine-related issues.