Tufts

Turkish Doctoral Student at Tufts University Detained Amid Terrorism Allegations, Sparking Legal Battle and Community Outcry

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BOSTON — An emergency motion requesting the government to present a Tufts University doctoral candidate, Rumeysa Ozturk, to the court was filed Thursday by a lawyer after her detention by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk, 30, a Turkish national, was abruptly apprehended outside her residence by masked federal agents, triggering a swift legal response from her counsel. The incident, captured on video showing Ozturk being handcuffed and stripped of her phone while she protested, escalated quickly, with bystanders questioning the aggressive approach of the agents. The footage reveals some … Read more

Tufts University Student Detained by Homeland Security Agents Sparking Widespread Concern and Protests

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Somerville, Mass. — A 30-year-old doctoral student from Turkey studying at Tufts University was detained by agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on a Somerville street, as seen in security camera footage. According to her lawyer, Rumeysa Ozturk was apprehended without an immediate explanation, sparking confusion and distress among witnesses. The incident occurred just before sunset on Tuesday as Ozturk was heading for an iftar gathering, a meal that breaks the day’s fast during Ramadan. Visual evidence displays at least six individuals, faces concealed, confiscating Ozturk’s phone and handcuffing her while she protested. … Read more