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[Introduction to North Cyprus] North Cyprus Universities [Complaints and Feedback page] |
Student suicide at The European University of Lefke It is with deep sadness and regret that the ISAS-CH learned of the death of Müjdat Kőroğlu, a 20 year old student at the European University of Lefke, in Northern Cyprus. The ISAS-CH offers its deep condolences to his family, friends, and fellow students who knew him. The premature death of any young person is great cause for sadness, but even more so when the circumstances leading up to his death are less than clear: compounded by what appears to be attempts by the university authorities to cover up their own, and staff members, involvement in the tragic events that led a young man to conclude he had no other option than to take his own life to spare his family the shame of their son being accused of the theft of a mobile phone. The following are two newspaper articles from the local press- one in English and one in Turkish, which we will have translated as soon as possible. 1. A slightly edited version of the above article appeared in the Cyprus Times Article, 9 June 2005, Issue 77, (Front page and pg3) Müjdat Köroğlu was a 20 year old student from Istanbul studying at the European University of Lefke. Like any normal 20 year old, Müjdat looked forward to a long and happy life, and a successful career surrounded by a loving family with whom he could share his achievements with. Those dreams came to a dramatic end last week when Müjdat was found dead at the end of a cord he had used to kill himself with. I did not know Müjdat well, just as a voice at the end of the telephone, and then he had to speak to me with the help of a translator. He seemed a nice kid whose world had suddenly been shattered by accusations of theft and the taunting that followed, perpetrated by those who should have known better. What led Müjdat to take his life? Why did a young man with such a bright future feel so desperate and alone to end things this way? No doubt there will be much speculation and an attempt to cover up the less palatable parts of Müjdat’s final days with us, but I feel it is my duty to speak out for Müjdat and those like him who are driven to an early grave by those who should have treated him responsibly and with compassion. My telephone number had been given to Müjdat by one of my former students; he had been told that I might be able to help him and that I had access to a student support service and legal advice. Müjdat explained with his limited English that he had been accused of stealing a mobile telephone from one of his teachers. He said that he had been taken to Lefke Police Station for an interview during which he claimed that the police had screamed and shouted at him for a long time until he told them what they wanted to hear. I asked Müjdat to find a friend who could speak English well and then to phone me back. Müjdat found a fluent English speaker and phoned me back in the evening. He confirmed what Müjdat had said earlier. He also said that Müjdat had not stolen the telephone but had found it. That Müjdat had phoned and asked around the campus to try and find the rightful owner. He said that Müjdat had been taken by the police and “interviewed” about the mobile phone. The translator said that Müjdat was trembling and disorientated when he was released by the police. He said that Müjdat had sought an interview with the Rector of the European University of Lefke (EUL), but had been refused an appointment. He then attempted to contact the chairman of the EUL, who I understand to be a plumbers Merchant from Lefkosa, and also the Mayor of Lefke, who serves on the board of trustees, but that nobody would listen to him. He then said that Müjdat was called a thief and a liar by three of the male teacher’s in the English Preparatory School and was also allegedly assaulted by a senior member of the administration at the university. I then asked to speak to Müjdat directly and I asked him to name the teachers concerned, which he did. I know two of the teachers Müjdat named and expressed surprise at one of the names mentioned. The translator then came back on the line and asked me to help Müjdat if possible. I asked if they wanted me to go over to Lefke but he said that he thought Müjdat needed to rest. Given what had happened, I thought this might be a good idea. I could hear Müjdat crying in the background throughout the call. I suggested that Müjdat phone me if there were any further problems and that we should arrange to meet on Wednesday to see what could be done. I received a phone call on Monday evening from Müjdat’s friend claiming that he had personally witnessed teachers taunting him and that Müjdat was worried that word might get back to his father who I understood be a member of the Turkish Security Forces. I managed to speak to Müjdat and told him that if necessary, I or someone from ISAS-CH (ISAS is the International Student Advice Service based in Switzerland- www.isas-ch.org) would go with him to speak to his father and that someone from ISAS-CH would accompany him to any further official interviews if at all possible. I know what the regime is like over at EUL from bitter personal experience. I said that the place was evil eighteen months ago and I remain of that opinion. Wracked by hatred of anyone that doesn’t fit in with the narrow minded and bigoted administration there, any hope of redress or improvement is stymied by the continual political infighting. The place is a hopeless mess and certainly no place one should even think of sending vulnerable young men or women for an education. The administration is quite merciless in its persecution of those that don’t fit in or keep their mouths shut: I can attest to this from my own experiences there. I recall my parting words at the end of a long meeting about EUL last April with the then Minister of Education Mr. Erbil Akbil. He said that he would take up my complaints with a Mr. Dervish Deniz who at that time served on the board of trustees. “I suggest you do because before long you are going to have a scandal or worse still tragedy on your hands”. It gives me not one ounce pleasure to be proved right. When Müjdat didn’t contact me the following day I became concerned. Müjdat Köroğlu was found dead on the afternoon of Tuesday 31 May 2005, apparently unable to bear the taunts any longer, he committed suicide. I was informed of Müjdat’s death by a student of EUL on Tuesday evening. I received a phone call from another student on Wednesday telling me that I must help as the administration has put out a rumour that Müjdat had died following a road accident! I was able to assure the student that the death certificate stated the cause of death to be suicide and that enquiries were continuing. I further assured the student that I would try and make sure that what had happened to Müjdat would not just be “covered up.” Society cannot tolerate the behaviour of the scum, of the filthy vermin that drove Müjdat to such an untimely and horrific death, to even consider them as human beings is an insult to all humanity. All this happened because of a mobile telephone and of the unkind deeds of others some of whom have the audacity to call themselves educated and educators. Those responsible for the taunts that led to Müjdat’s death should be exposed and never let near young vulnerable people ever again, no matter who they are or what “connections” they may have. I have no doubt that Müjdat had his faults; what normal healthy 20 year old doesn’t get into the odd scrape or two. Those that knew Müjdat better than I did have attested to the fact that he was a nice young man, fiercely loyal to his family and friends, very warm hearted and kind, and yes even though my contact with him was at the end of a telephone, I got the impression that he was all those things. No matter the circumstances of Müjdat’s death and the circumstances leading up to it, his father and mother can feel justly proud of their son who did his best to live up to their expectations of him. They had a fine son indeed, admired and respected by his friends of which there are many. Paul R. A bundle of documents was sent to the President of North Cyprus on Wednesday 15 June 2005 in connection with EUL and Müjdat Köroğlu. A statement was sent to the Chief of Police in Lefkosa and copied to Ambassador Aydan Kayahan at the Turkish Embassy in Lefkosa on 18/6/05. English translation of the article in the Africa Newspaper, 11 June 2005, Year 4, Issue 1271, pp3. “BEHIND THE CURTAIN” Student commits suicide after being accused of theft.
Afrika Special Report.
Müjdat Koroglu was a 20 year old young man. He was a student of the European University of Lefke, it was said that he was a good student; however our youngster chose to commit suicide. He ended his life by hanging himself from a clothes line at his house but unlike most other suicides Müjdat didn’t leave the reason for his death a secret.
Just before he died he told people of the unbearable things that had happened to him, one of those people was Paul Robinson, the representative of www.isas-ch, which is the international student’s advice service for N Cyprus. This organization is based in Switzerland.
The suicide which was only reported very briefly relied on police reports and did not mention that Müjdat Koroglu was a student at EUL. However, the truth which had been hidden behind the curtains was put before our eyes by Paul Robinson in an English newspaper. “I feel it is my duty to speak on behalf of Müjdat and others like him who were sent to an early grave by people who should have been compassionate and shown a more professional attitude”. Paul Robinson also added that Müjdat had said that the behavior of the police was unbearable.
What was it that put Müjdat in the hands of the police? The disappearance of a mobile telephone and that the mobile phone was in Müjdat’s possession. Following a complaint to the police, Müjdat was arrested and questioned at the police station in a heavy handed way until he gave them the answers they wanted to hear. No matter what he said, he couldn’t convince the police that he didn’t steal the phone but had found it, and was trying to find the owner by asking around the university. In the end, he was forced to sign the statement the police wanted.
After he was released from police custody, some of the teachers and administration staff at EUL started calling him a “thief”. These insults and taunts were made in front of other students. Müjdat was afraid that his father, who is a serving member of the Turkish Armed Forces, would hear that his son had been branded as a “thief”. At this point, with the help of Mr. Paul Robinson they decided that if necessary they would explain the situation to his father in the company of a representative of isas-ch.
Müjdat Koroglu was found hanging from the clothes line one day before he was going to meet the representative. The police report stated that it was just a suicide and was reported in the press with only four lines. |
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