Thu Mar 27 01:53:04 UTC 2025: **Turkish Doctoral Student Arrested in US Sparks Outrage**

Somerville, MA – March 27, 2025 – The arrest and detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, has sparked widespread protests and condemnation. Ozturk was apprehended by unidentified federal agents on Tuesday evening, March 25th, outside her Somerville home, in an incident caught on video appearing to show a forceful, masked apprehension.

Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, filed a petition in Boston federal court Wednesday, stating that no charges have been filed and that Ozturk’s visa allows her to study in the US. The video, obtained by the Associated Press, shows agents taking Ozturk’s phone and handcuffing her while she protests. Witnesses described the scene as resembling a “kidnapping.”

While Tufts University President Sunil Kumar confirmed the detention and visa termination, he stated the university had no prior knowledge of the incident. However, a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson later confirmed Ozturk’s detention and stated that investigations revealed she engaged in activities supporting Hamas, a designation that led to her visa termination. The DHS cited Ozturk’s op-ed in *The Tufts Daily*, criticizing the university’s response to pro-Palestinian resolutions, as evidence. This op-ed also led to her name and information being publicized by Canary Mission, a website that tracks individuals it deems anti-Israel.

The arrest has drawn sharp criticism. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called it a “horrifying violation” of Ozturk’s rights, while Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell described the video as “disturbing” and accused the administration of intimidation. A judge has ordered the government to explain Ozturk’s detention by Friday and prohibited her transfer outside Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice. Despite this order, Ozturk is reportedly being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Centre.

Hundreds protested in Somerville on Wednesday, demanding Ozturk’s release and criticizing what they perceive as an attack on immigrants and free speech. Friends and colleagues describe Ozturk as a peaceful researcher, refuting the accusations against her. The Turkish Embassy is actively working to support her. The incident highlights growing concerns about the treatment of international students in the US, particularly those expressing pro-Palestinian views.

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