Masked US officials detain Turkish PhD scholar over pro-Palestinian stance
Massachusetts: Turkish PhD scholar Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested outside her residence in Massachusetts on March 26 by masked US border security forces. Ozturk, a student at Tufts University, was reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while heading to an Iftar dinner.
Her detention is part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration against pro-Palestinian activists. Ozturk, who previously completed her master’s at Columbia University as a Fulbright Scholar, co-authored a 2024 opinion essay in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the university’s stance on Gaza and advocating for divestment from companies linked to Israel.
The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) has condemned what it termed the “abduction” of the scholar. Ozturk’s arrest follows a pattern of detentions, including those of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri. Her case has also been linked to Canary Mission, a pro-Israel website known for blacklisting pro-Palestinian students and activists.
Amid the US’ bid to curb pro-Palestinian voices, a Turkish PhD scholar was arrested outside her residence in Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 26, in the United States, by masked US border security forces.
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) March 27, 2025
The scholar has been identified as Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and… pic.twitter.com/iYXiGAJVno
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
