Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student from Tufts University, was released from a Louisiana immigration detention center after over six weeks. She was arrested near the university and detained after co-authoring an editorial that criticized Tufts' response to student protests regarding Palestine. Upon her release, Ozturk expressed gratitude for the support she received and vowed to continue her legal battle against what she deems an unlawful arrest aimed at suppressing her First Amendment rights. A judge ruled against travel restrictions, citing insufficient evidence for her detention.
In the last 45 days, I lost both my freedom and also my education during a crucial time for my doctoral studies. But I am so grateful for all the support, kindness and care.
I have faith in the American system of justice.
US District Judge William Sessions in Vermont ruled that she was to be released with no travel restrictions, saying she was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Ozturk's lawyers argue that her arrest and detention were unlawfully designed to punish her for exercising her First Amendment right and to deter others from speaking out.
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