Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on March 25, 2025, while en route to an iftar gathering during Ramadan.
The DHS accused Ozturk of supporting Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, leading to the revocation of her student visa. However, no formal charges have been filed, and details of the allegations remain undisclosed.
Surveillance footage captured the moment of her detention, showing masked agents handcuffing her and seizing her phone. This incident has sparked significant controversy, with critics viewing it as an infringement on free speech and civil liberties.
In response, hundreds gathered in Somerville, Massachusetts, to protest her detention, demanding her release and expressing concerns over potential violations of constitutional rights.
Ozturk’s current whereabouts are unknown, and she remains unreachable. The Turkish government is providing consular support, and legal actions are underway to challenge her detention.