Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by federal agents in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday night. Ozturk, who was on her way to meet friends for iftar, was arrested and moved to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Basile, Louisiana.
Ozturk Arrested While Meeting Friends for Iftar
Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, confirmed that Ozturk was meeting friends for iftar, a meal breaking the Ramadan fast, when she was detained. Despite a U.S. District Judge’s order that Ozturk not be moved outside Massachusetts, federal authorities transferred her to Louisiana without prior notice.
Friends Deny Allegations of Terrorist Support
Federal authorities claimed that Ozturk supported Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, leading to her visa revocation. However, friends and colleagues deny these allegations. Ozturk’s only known activism was co-authoring an op-ed in The Tufts Daily supporting Palestinian causes and urging the university to cut ties with Israel.
Crowds Protest Ozturk’s Detention in Massachusetts
Hundreds gathered in Somerville on Wednesday night to protest Ozturk’s detention. Protesters expressed concerns that her arrest is part of a broader crackdown on immigrant activists supporting Palestinian rights. Lea Kayali, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, emphasized that Ozturk’s case highlights a deliberate attempt to silence pro-Palestinian voices.
Trump’s Crackdown Targets Pro-Palestinian Activists
Ozturk’s detention is part of former President Donald Trump’s crackdown on students engaging in what he labeled as “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.” This follows the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, and other students detained under similar allegations.
