Turkey reopens seized university three days after its closure

Turkey has reversed ​a decision to revoke ​the operating licence ‌of Istanbul ​Bilgi University, according to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette ‌on Monday, following a request from the Higher Education Council (YOK). The decree rescinds a May 22 presidential decision that had stripped ‌the university of its licence after its founding foundation ‌was placed under trusteeship following a criminal investigation last year.

Turkey has reversed ​a decision to revoke ​the operating licence ‌of Istanbul ​Bilgi University, according to a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette ‌on Monday, following a request from the Higher Education Council (YOK). The decree rescinds a May 22 presidential decision that had stripped ‌the university of its licence after its founding foundation ‌was placed under trusteeship following a criminal investigation last year. Private Istanbul Bilgi University, founded in 1996 and acquired by Can Holding in ⁠2019, ​was among ⁠companies taken over by the authorities in a probe into alleged money ⁠laundering, tax evasion and organised crime.

A trustee was appointed to ​run the university following the seizure. It has around ⁠22,000 students, with roughly 3,400 enrolling in 2025. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ⁠reversed ​the decision to revoke the licence to take into account expectations of students and academics, YOK head Erol ⁠Ozvar said in a post on X.

Bilgi University students ⁠have been ⁠demonstrating on the campus since Friday to protest the decision to close the institution.