ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – One of Istanbul’s major universities was shut down on Friday by direct order of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the middle of the academic year, coming amid an ongoing criminal investigation into its owners.

As part of the investigation launched against Can Holding, Istanbul Bilgi University, whose founding foundation had a trustee appointed, had its operating license revoked.

With the decision published in the May 22nd edition of the Official Gazette, the university was effectively closed.

The developments are part of an investigation into Can Holding, which was launched in September 2025 by a public prosecutor in Istanbul over allegations of “forming and managing a criminal organization,” “membership in a criminal organization,” “laundering proceeds of crime,” and “aggravated fraud.”

The investigation targeted more than 25 people, with the state-owned Anadolu Agency reporting that 11 suspects were arrested and others placed under travel bans and house arrest.

Turkey’s Treasury and Finance Ministry also seized the assets of 121 companies.

“It has been decided, in accordance with Article 11 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, to revoke the operating license of Istanbul Bilgi University, whose founding foundation has had a trustee appointed,” Ankara’s official Gazette reported on Friday.

The decision was made under Erdogan’s direct order. 

The university, founded in 1996, is known for its liberal academic environment, participates in the EU’s Erasmus exchange program, and hosts many European and international students each year. It has more than 20,000 students from Turkey and abroad and includes researchers who are recognized in their fields.

In 2016, a British lecturer at the university was charged and eventually acquitted by an Istanbul court of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” after he was found with Kurdish langauge leaflets of the now-defunct People's Democratic Party (HDP).

The developments come despite remarks by Erol Ozvar, head of the Council of Higher Education, in September 2025 regarding Istanbul Bilgi University.

“Within the scope of the judicial investigation…there is no cause for concern for our academic staff, administrative personnel, or students. Educational and instructional activities at our university will continue uninterrupted,” he said.

“We will continue to keep the public informed of developments.”