At Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), student groups gathered to protest against the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.
After the Friday prayers at the OMU Campus Mosque, the student groups marched from the mosque to the OMU Life Center, chanting slogans in support of Palestine and against the actions of Israel. The banners displayed messages such as "No to Genocide," "End the Occupation in Gaza," "Campuses Stand Up for Palestine," and "Free Palestine," among others. The demonstration saw the participation of the Rector, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, the Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, numerous academics, students, and other attendees.
During the protest, Rector Ünal made a speech emphasizing the significance of the struggle in Gaza not only for the people of Gaza but for humanity as a whole. He criticized the hypocrisy of the West concerning human rights and called for continued protests and boycotts against products associated with those who support the oppression.
Rector Ünal said in his speech here that the glorious struggle of Gazans is a fact that declares to the world that humanity is not dead and that there is still hope for humanity.
“The West, which has positioned itself in a different place with its own concepts such as being modern, respectful of human rights, contemporary, etc., and has tried to groom the whole humanity with the term human rights for at least a century, is going through a process that shows the hypocrisy of the West and that it does not take into account any existence other than itself. What is happening in Gaza is not only a test for Gazans but also for us. We have been unable to reach them or bring them aid, but the voice we will give from here will be a spirit for them; it will strengthen them. This stance must be continued with protests and boycotts against products. Otherwise, the losers will be first Muslims and then the whole humanity.”
The event concluded with a moment of silence and the national anthem, drawing participation from academics, students, and the public.