Press Release: Controversial Detention of Tufts Student Sparks Legal and Human Rights Debate
Vermont, USA — Rümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Tufts University PhD candidate, is at the center of a controversial legal battle following her recent arrest and subsequent detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Attorneys representing Öztürk claimed her arrest was unconstitutional and described the conditions of her detention in a Louisiana facility as “unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane.”
Öztürk was apprehended under allegations of supporting Hamas, accusations that a State Department memo reportedly contradicted, noting a lack of evidence against her. During a nearly three-hour federal court hearing, Öztürk’s lawyer, Jessie Rossman, argued that her arrest was politically motivated, stemming from an article she co-authored criticizing the university’s treatment of pro-Palestinian students.
The Trump administration contended that Öztürk’s habeas corpus petition should be dismissed, asserting it was improperly filed in Vermont. However, U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions expressed skepticism over the government’s arguments while emphasizing the serious implications of disregarding potential constitutional violations.
Öztürk’s ordeal involved being shuttled across several states, isolating her from her legal counsel and campus community. Her arrest followed threats on social media and allegations of her being a “terrorist sympathizer,” fueling fears for her safety. A recent brief from 27 American Jewish organizations argued that targeting students like Öztürk in the guise of combating antisemitism severely undermines civil rights.
Currently, Öztürk remains detained, struggling with health issues exacerbated by subpar conditions, and fearing missed academic opportunities. As debates about her arrest unfold, she continues to seek release in order to return to her studies and community at Tufts. Öztürk stated, “I pray every day for my release so I can go back to my home and community.”
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