Istanbul Erkek Lisesi, a prestigious high school in Turkey, has become the center of a peer bullying scandal. On November 24, a group of 11th-grade students allegedly raided the dormitories and severely assaulted seven 9th-grade students. The incident, which involved the use of brass knuckles and knives, resulted in one student’s eardrum rupturing.
Dormitory Raid and Brutal Assault
According to information obtained by SABAH, the incident began with a WhatsApp group conversation among 9th-grade students E.E.A., M.B.P., M.M.A., M.T.P., M.A.K., E.A., and A.H.A. The students were reportedly discussing female students, and their messages were shared with the girls’ groups by another student. Upon seeing these messages, the female students informed the 11th-grade students.
Around 8:00 PM on November 24, a group of approximately 10 11th-grade students stormed the dormitory where the 9th-grade students resided. They forcibly took the seven younger students to the cinema room within the dormitory. During the altercation, which escalated from a verbal dispute to a physical assault, the 9th-grade students were allegedly shown brass knuckles and knives.
The assault was brutal; some students were repeatedly slapped in the face, while others had their heads rubbed against the wall. E.E.A. suffered a ruptured eardrum due to the blows to his face, and E.A. developed redness on his body after being choked. The 11th-grade students then took their victims to a nearby cafe, where they searched them and confiscated their phones and tablets without consent. The traumatized students later informed their families about the incident.
Legal and Administrative Investigations Launched
Parents of the victims took their children to the hospital, obtained assault reports, and filed formal complaints with the public prosecutor’s office against the responsible students. Some parents have since transferred their children to other schools in different cities. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a judicial investigation, while the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education has launched an administrative inquiry into the matter.
Students Face Further Bullying at New Schools
According to reports from Hürriyet, six of the seven students were transferred to Ankara Science High School, and one to Adana Science High School. However, it is alleged that some of these students faced further bullying from other students at their new schools.
Principal Suspended Amidst Ongoing Probe
The Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education announced that the incident is being investigated by National Education Inspectors, and support activities for the students have been initiated by the guidance counseling service.
In a significant development, Yılmaz Arslan, who has served as the principal of Istanbul Erkek Lisesi since last year, has been suspended from his duties. Sources close to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education confirmed that Arslan did not report to work as of yesterday. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the principal will be permanently dismissed or reinstated.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and highlighted the critical issue of peer bullying in educational institutions. The ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full extent of the events and ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Source: https://www.sabah.com.tr/yasam/son-dakika-istanbul-erkek-lisesindeki-akran-zorbaliginda-carpici-gelisme-okul-muduru-hakkinda-karar-verildi-7483014
