The Pride flag was at the center of controversy during protests against the president's appointment of a party member as a rector to the school, as students were accused of insulting religion because of an artwork showing the rainbow flag at a Muslim holy site. 

"Our existence can't be banned, the rainbow can't be put on trial," the students chanted outside of the courthouse on July 3 as their friends faced the courts for displaying the rainbow flag. 

The court postponed the students' trial to June 28, lifted their probation but left in place an international travel ban against the students.

The students on trial also had the support of the Boğaziçi University LGBTI+ Studies Club that the president's rector appointment officially shut down.