Reversal of the Presidential Decree Concerning the Closure of Istanbul Bilgi University

撤回關於關閉伊斯坦堡比爾基大學的總統令

May 25, 2026, 09:19
EuropePolitics

Introduction

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has rescinded a directive to shut down Istanbul Bilgi University following a period of institutional closure and public demonstrations.

土耳其總統艾爾杜宛在經歷一段時間的校園關閉與公眾示威後，撤回了關閉伊斯坦堡比爾基大學的指令。

Main Body

The administrative trajectory of Istanbul Bilgi University, established in 1996, was fundamentally altered in September 2025 when the state assumed control of the institution. This seizure was predicated upon a criminal investigation by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Can Holding, the university's owner since 2019. The prosecution alleged the existence of a criminal organization engaged in tax evasion, money laundering, and the utilization of forged documentation to obscure the origins of illicit funds. Consequently, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF)—an entity whose regulatory scope was expanded via legislative amendments in January 2025—took management of 121 Can Holding assets, including several media outlets and the university.

成立於1996年的伊斯坦堡比爾基大學，在2025年9月因國家接管而導致行政方向發生根本性改變。此次接管是基於Küçükçekmece首席檢察官辦公室對Can Holding（自2019年起的大學所有者）進行的刑事調查。檢方指稱，該公司存在一個從事逃稅、洗錢，並利用偽造文件來掩飾非法資金來源的犯罪組織。因此，儲蓄存款保險基金（TMSF）——一個在2025年1月經立法修訂而擴大監管權限的機構——接管了Can Holding旗下121項資產，包括數家媒體機構與該大學。

On Friday, a presidential decree mandated the closure of the university, citing statutory provisions regarding insufficient educational standards. This action precipitated immediate opposition from the academic community, as the timing coincided with the conclusion of the academic semester. Protesters, comprising students and faculty, convened at the main campus to demand the restoration of educational access. Reports indicate that law enforcement deployed tear gas and conducted arrests during these assemblies. These events occurred concurrently with broader civil unrest following the judicial removal of Özgür Özel, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), from his position.

週五，一份總統令以教育標準不足的法定條文為由，要求關閉該大學。由於時間恰逢學期末，此舉立即引起學術界的強烈反對。由學生與教職員組成的抗議者在主校區聚集，要求恢復受教權。報導指出，警方在集會期間使用了催淚瓦斯並進行逮捕。這些事件與共和人民黨（CHP）領袖Özgür Özel被司法撤職後引發的更廣泛社會動盪同時發生。

Following these demonstrations, a subsequent decree published in the official gazette on Sunday reversed the closure. The university administration stated that the decision to resume operations was intended to safeguard the students' right to education. The institution, which maintains a student body exceeding 20,000 and participates in the European Union's Erasmus program, has thus avoided permanent cessation.

在這些示威之後，週日在官方公報上發布的後續法令撤回了關閉令。大學管理層表示，決定恢復運作是為了保障學生的受教權。這所擁有超過2萬名學生並參與歐盟Erasmus計劃的機構，因此避免了永久停辦。

Conclusion

Istanbul Bilgi University has been permitted to reopen after a brief closure initiated by presidential decree.

伊斯坦堡比爾基大學在經總統令短暫關閉後，現已獲准重新開放。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization and Legalistic Density

To move from B2 to C2, a student must transition from describing events to constructing systemic narratives. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (concepts). This is the primary engine of formal, academic, and legal English.

⚡ The Linguistic Shift

Compare a B2 construction to the C2 phrasing found in the text:

  • B2 (Action-oriented): The state took control of the university because the prosecutor was investigating Can Holding for crimes.
  • C2 (Concept-oriented): "This seizure was predicated upon a criminal investigation... into Can Holding."

In the C2 version, the action ("took control") becomes a noun ("seizure"). The reason ("because") becomes a formal prepositional phrase ("predicated upon"). This shifts the focus from who did what to the legal status of the event.

🔍 Deconstructing High-Level Collocations

Observe the precision of the vocabulary. A C2 learner does not use "generic" verbs; they use verbs that specify the nature of the legal or administrative process:

  1. "Rescinded a directive" →\rightarrow Not just 'cancelled', but formally revoked a legal order.
  2. "Precipitated immediate opposition" →\rightarrow Not just 'caused', but triggered a sudden, violent, or intense reaction.
  3. "Permanent cessation" →\rightarrow Not just 'closing forever', but the formal ending of an existence or operation.

🛠 Sophisticated Syntactic Integration

Note the use of appositives and non-restrictive clauses to pack dense information without breaking the flow:

"...the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF)—an entity whose regulatory scope was expanded via legislative amendments in January 2025—took management..."

Analysis: The writer inserts a complex definition of the TMSF mid-sentence using em-dashes. This allows the reader to maintain the primary subject-verb connection (TMSF took management) while absorbing essential contextual data. This "nesting" technique is a hallmark of C2 proficiency.

🎓 Key Takeaway for the Aspirant

To achieve C2, stop asking "What happened?" and start asking "What is the noun that represents this event?"

  • Instead of "The government changed the law" →\rightarrow "Legislative amendments were enacted."
  • Instead of "They tried to hide where the money came from" →\rightarrow "The utilization of forged documentation to obscure the origins of illicit funds."

Vocabulary Learning

rescinded (v.)
to revoke or cancel a decision or order
Example:The president rescinded the decree, allowing the university to reopen.
predicated (v.)
to base or ground something on a particular premise
Example:The seizure was predicated upon findings from the investigation.
obscure (v.)
to make unclear or difficult to understand
Example:The forged documents were used to obscure the origins of illicit funds.
illicit (adj.)
illegal or forbidden by law
Example:The organization was involved in illicit activities.
regulatory (adj.)
relating to rules or regulations
Example:The regulatory scope of the fund was expanded.
precipitated (v.)
to cause to happen suddenly
Example:The decree precipitated immediate opposition.
coincided (v.)
to occur at the same time
Example:The protest coincided with the semester's end.
concurrently (adv.)
at the same time
Example:The arrests were carried out concurrently with the demonstrations.
subsequent (adj.)
following in time; later
Example:A subsequent decree reversed the closure.
statutory (adj.)
relating to law or statutes
Example:Statutory provisions were cited to justify the closure.
mandated (adj.)
required or authorized by law
Example:The decree mandated the university's closure.
exceeding (adj.)
going beyond a limit
Example:The student body exceeds 20,000.
cessation (n.)
a stopping or ending
Example:The university avoided permanent cessation.
administrative (adj.)
relating to administration
Example:The administrative trajectory of the university changed.
institutional (adj.)
relating to an institution
Example:The institutional closure lasted several months.
prosecution (n.)
the action of prosecuting a case
Example:The prosecution alleged tax evasion.
alleged (adj.)
claimed but not proven
Example:Alleged criminal organization.
organization (n.)
a group with a purpose
Example:The organization engaged in money laundering.
forged (adj.)
made illegally or falsely
Example:Forged documentation was used.
documentation (n.)
written records
Example:The documentation was scrutinized.
utilization (n.)
use or application
Example:Utilization of forged documents was widespread.
seizure (n.)
the act of taking possession
Example:The state's seizure of assets was swift.
assets (n.)
resources owned
Example:The assets included media outlets.
closure (n.)
the act of shutting down
Example:The closure lasted several months.
evasion (n.)
the act of avoiding law
Example:Tax evasion was a key charge.
laundering (n.)
the process of concealing origins of money
Example:Money laundering was investigated.
decree (n.)
an official order
Example:The presidential decree closed the university.
opposition (n.)
resistance or protest
Example:Opposition erupted from academics.
restoration (n.)
return to a former state
Example:The decree aimed at restoration of access.
enforcement (n.)
the act of enforcing
Example:Law enforcement deployed tear gas.
safeguard (v.)
to protect or preserve
Example:The decision was to safeguard students' rights.
student (n.)
a person studying
Example:Students demanded access.
body (n.)
a group of people
Example:The student body exceeded 20,000.
Erasmus (n.)
European student exchange program
Example:The university participates in Erasmus.
permanent (adj.)
lasting forever
Example:Avoided permanent closure.
reversed (v.)
to change to the opposite
Example:The decree was reversed after protests.
judicial (adj.)
relating to courts
Example:The judicial removal of a leader was controversial.
removal (n.)
the act of taking away
Example:The removal was carried out by the party.
official (adj.)
pertaining to an office
Example:The official gazette announced the decree.
gazette (n.)
a public journal
Example:The gazette published the new law.
Practice C2 words in a crossword→