Murder at Boğaziçi University: What happened regarding the murder of the 15-year-old girl?

A murder was committed at Boğaziçi University. Ayberk Kurtuluş, a man with 24 prior criminal records, killed 15-year-old Hilal Özdemir with a gun he smuggled onto campus. Özdemir, who died, was working at a wedding held on campus.

A child murder was committed on Saturday, August 30th, at Boğaziçi University's South Campus. Ayberk Kurtuluş (20), a man known to have 24 criminal records, shot and killed 15-year-old Hilal Özdemir with a weapon he had smuggled onto campus. Kurtuluş later committed suicide with the same weapon.

On the day of the murder, Özdemir was working at a wedding held at the university's Kennedy Lodge. Kurtuluş, though not a wedding worker or a university student, entered the campus twice to speak with Özdemir, first in the afternoon and then in the evening.

Kurtuluş was allegedly Özdemir's ex-girlfriend. Özdemir had reportedly wanted to break up with Kurtuluş some time ago, but the perpetrator reportedly disrespected her decision and constantly harassed her. Özdemir reportedly left her current school and transferred to another.

According to Sabah newspaper, it was revealed that Kurtuluş called Özdemir on the day of the incident and said, "Let's meet one last time." Özdemir sent him the location of the cafe where he worked part-time. Kurtuluş then drove to the entrance of the campus and entered the campus without being called, saying, "I'm here for a wedding."

According to DHA, Kurtuluş, known for his extensive criminal record, arrived at the Kale Gate, the campus's waterfront entrance, around noon. The perpetrator, who told security guards, "I'm here for a wedding," proceeded without being searched. On campus, Özdemir and Kurtuluş were seen arguing. A woman who saw the two reacted angrily, prompting Kurtuluş to leave the campus in his vehicle.

Kurtuluş returned to campus in his vehicle in the evening. He claimed to be attending a wedding, but again, no call was received.

Unlike the main gate in Hisarüstü, the campus's Kale Gate doesn't have an X-ray machine. IDs are usually checked at this gate, but allegations suggest there wasn't one on the day of the wedding.

It was learned that the gun used in the murder was unlicensed.

The building, called Kennedy Lodge, is available for rent for events such as weddings and engagements under the umbrella of Boğaziçi University Social Facilities. The university's official website provides contact information for various event planning companies. It's known that Özdemir, despite being under 18, was employed by one of these companies that day.

Boğaziçi University Media Center released a statement on the social media platform X, saying, “We have learned with sorrow that a civilian lost his life as a result of an armed attack at the Castle Gate of our University’s South Campus, and that the perpetrator of the attack later committed suicide with the same weapon.”

Dr. Burçay Erus, an associate professor in the Department of Economics, highlighted the university administration's efforts to distance itself from responsibility for the murder by using the X platform:

"The building closest to the scene of the incident is not Kale Kapı, but Kennedy Lodge. The child who lost his life was not an ordinary civilian, but a university wedding planner. May God not leave anyone in a position of trying to save themselves, even in such a tragic event."

The university administration released a new statement on Monday, September 1st. The statement emphasized that the murder occurred during an event unrelated to the university, saying, "Hilal Özdemir, who was on duty at this event organized by an event organization at Kennedy Lodge, left the area briefly to meet with the perpetrator and lost her life as a result of the attack on the road leading to Kale Kapı."

The statement continued as follows:

It was determined that the perpetrator of the incident came to the event with an invitation and entered the campus by presenting his invitation at the entrance. Security officers followed the necessary campus entry procedures; guest registration was maintained, vehicles were directed to the guest parking lot, and entry rules were followed. Because security officers do not have the authority to conduct vehicle searches or body searches, the weapon the perpetrator concealed in his vehicle was not identified. However, an administrative investigation has been launched against the relevant security personnel.

In a statement on the X platform, the Boğaziçi University Alumni Association (BÜMED) emphasized the painful loss and said that the responsibility lies entirely with the Boğaziçi University administration:

This incident is not merely a femicide; it is also one of the most painful consequences of child labor, security vulnerabilities, and irresponsibility. Universities are places where science, freedom, and life must be conducted safely. […] The Boğaziçi University administration is directly responsible for this grave security lapse. Administrators who failed to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors must be held publicly accountable for their failure to fulfill their duties; the necessary administrative and legal processes must be implemented without delay and immediately.

Hilal Özdemir's uncle, Fahri Özdemir, protested at the funeral held on Sunday, August 31st, saying, "Our 15-year-old is gone. He has 24 crimes. He comes and kills my nephew. Then he goes and kills himself. My only anger is that no normal person can enter that campus. How did this man get in with that gun? We will pursue this anyway. We will not let it go. We had no idea. The incident happens at 7:30 PM. We learn about these incidents at 10:30 PM on social media."

Regarding Kurtuluş, Uncle Özdemir said, "The child has no owner. No one came to the Forensic Medicine Office. His father and mother are separated. This child was beating his father, too. His father didn't even come to collect his body."

Female students from many different universities gathered to protest on Sunday, August 31st, at the South Campus, where the murder took place.

In the press release read on behalf of the ITU Women who supported the call to action, it was stated that the murder was the result of a systematic attack:

The trustee administration allowed an armed murderer onto campus while searching for his own student's bag. This isn't just an individual tragedy; male violence, combined with the state's policies of impunity, has become systemic. If a girl is murdered today, the responsibility lies not only with the person who pulled the gun, but also with the political power that paved the way for it.

Sources: Demirören News Agency Compiled by: Can Malik Kiremitçi