Yeditepe University Quranic Banner Controversy: New Videos Released and Investigation Launched

Roots of the Controversy in the Faculty of Law During the graduation ceremony of Yeditepe University Faculty of Law on July 7, 2026, a student named Mustafa Malo unfurled a banner containing verse 112 of Surah Hud ("Fastakim Kama Umirta" - So remain steadfast as you have been commanded), sparking a wave of reactions on social media and in Turkish political circles [4]. Initially, it was claimed that a group of students and academic staff, including the Dean, Professor Yener Ünver, tried to block the view of the Quranic verse by standing in front of the banner [3].

Sharp Political Reactions and YÖK Involvement The incident immediately became a hot political topic. Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for the Justice and Development Party (AKP), condemned the action, describing it as "barbaric behavior" and emphasizing the need to respect freedom of belief [4]. Following these reactions, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) announced that it had launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The council emphasized that universities must be environments for the free coexistence of all beliefs and ideas, and that no violation of students' constitutional rights will be tolerated [1].

New Videos; A Reality Different from Initial Claims? On July 10, 2026, new videos from different angles of the ceremony were released, challenging the initial narrative. These images show that Mustafa Malo held his banner fully open for more than 6 minutes, and during the ceremony, there was no physical intervention or organized effort to take it down [1]. Some media outlets, comparing this event to the "Kabataş incident," warned that this issue might have been used to create a false narrative of victimhood [2]. The new footage shows that the brief tensions that occurred were directed more at the student himself than the content of the banner [3].

Official Position of Yeditepe University The Rectorate of Yeditepe University issued an official statement declaring that there was no institutional obstruction by the university management. The statement noted that Yeditepe University has been loyal to national and spiritual values since its inception, citing the presence of the holy names "Allah" and "Muhammad" in Kufic script at the entrances of the university's main buildings as an example [3]. The university management emphasized that the administrative investigation continues to examine the details and address any behavior outside of academic norms [1].