A Christmas tree on a university campus in Turkey has reportedly been left dried out after acid was poured around its base, a year after a conservative group of Muslim students staged a prayer protest at the same tree and tried to attack classmates decorating it.
The latest attack comes after clashes last year at Yildiz Teknik University in Istanbul, when a conservative Muslim student group performed Islamic prayers (namaz) in front of the New Year tree to protest the decorations, then tried to rip off the ornaments and go for the students putting them up.
Other students, including Christian students, at Yildiz Teknik University say this year’s tree – known on campus as the “Starred Tree” – was damaged shortly after it was decorated for the Christmas and New Year period, according to local media reports on 24th November.
It has been claimed that three people poured acid, described locally as kezzap, at the base of the tree in the latest incident. Images shared online show the tree’s dried and browned branches alongside earlier photos of it in a healthy condition.
A social media post drew attention after a user identifying himself as Bilal boasted that he was behind the act, prompting anger from students and alumni.
The same tree was at the centre of tensions on 11th December 2024, when students decorated it only for campus security to remove the ornaments overnight. The decorations were later put back up by students, who then kept watch to stop them being taken down again.
During that earlier stand-off, a conservative group of Muslim YTU students intervened but were initially held back by private security. Local reports said the group first performed an Islamic prayer ritual to protest the decorations and then attempted to attack the students who were decorating the tree.
No official statement has yet been issued by the university or the authorities about this year’s alleged acid attack on the tree.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: newsX
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
