Thousands of university students from İstanbul’s top institutions marched from Kadıköy Rıhtım to Festivalpark on Tuesday, calling for the immediate release of their imprisoned classmates and denouncing government crackdowns on student protests. The march culminated in a massive open-air solidarity concert featuring popular Turkish bands and the Kurdish avant-garde group Siya Siyabend, which drew thunderous applause for its stand with the students.
Organised by students from over 15 universities including İstanbul University, Boğaziçi, Koç, Galatasaray, and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts, the event – named “Youth Solidarity Stage” – was both a cultural celebration and a political statement. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Freedom for Mahir, Ekrem and all students!” and “Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance,” as police attempted to cordon off the area, claiming the gathering was unlawful.
Despite warnings from authorities and police pressure, students pressed forward. They were joined by the Anne Baba Dayanışma Ağı (Parents’ Solidarity Network), who welcomed them at the gates of Festivalpark with open arms, hugs, and defiance. The families, many with children in custody, voiced their anger and heartbreak.
“We’re going through dark days, but we have hundreds of sons and daughters,” one mother told the crowd. “The government fears our children because they refuse to bow to injustice.”
Tensions have risen in recent months as students have taken a leading role in protests following the disputed cancellation of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s diploma – an event they say symbolises Turkey’s growing authoritarianism. The students had earlier occupied university spaces, formed campus committees, and marched on local government offices, leading to dozens of arrests.
In a joint statement read out before the concert, student organisers accused the government of using politically motivated detentions to suppress dissent and called for a nationwide campaign to unite students, workers and unions in democratic resistance.
“Our friends are in prison not because they committed crimes, but because they are a threat to a collapsing regime,” the statement declared. “We call on the unions to join us in a general strike.”
Parents spoke emotionally about the treatment of their children in custody. One mother said her son was severely beaten during arrest, while another said she had not seen her daughter since police took her to Gayrettepe station, and was refused information.
“How can we trust the state when it breaks our children’s noses, then tells us to download an app to report violence?” one parent asked, referring to the government’s KADES app against domestic abuse.
As the music played into the night, students danced, embraced, and vowed to keep fighting. The solidarity on display between parents, youth, and artists painted a picture of a generation unafraid to speak out – despite increasing government pressure.
The students ended the day repeating their slogan: “There is no salvation alone – either all of us, or none of us.”
