Speaking the Truth at a Steep Price: A Turkish Student’s Struggle
When Turku Avci, a Turkish student at Hebrew University, began sharing her positive experiences in Israel, she became a pariah in her home country. Targeted by radical Islamists, she can no longer return to Turkey or visit her family.
Shattering Myths
Raised in a secular Muslim family in Marmaris, Turku had never met a Jew or Israeli, yet she grew up hearing that “Jews are the most powerful people, and they control the world.” Israeli society was portrayed as snobbish and exploitative, while Palestinians were idealized as victims of imperialism.
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Friends warned her against studying in Israel, claiming she’d be isolated. But Turku’s curiosity deepened as she saw the Palestinian cause used by Turkey’s Islamist government for political gain. “They are using the Palestinian cause in a strategic way,” she says.
In college in Istanbul, she met pro-Palestinian activists who struck her as overbearing. “They just want to control your life… boycott whatever they say.” The contrast struck her: “They always say that Israel is going to control our country,” but it was the pro-Palestinians, not Israelis, that constantly tried to tell her what to believe.
Ironically, Turku’s first interactions with Israelis came in Marmaris, where Israeli tourists often docked near her family’s boat. “We became neighbors and started connecting,” she says. Her Jewish friends turned out to be ordinary, warm people who encouraged her to study in Israel.
A New Reality in Jerusalem
At Hebrew University, Turku found a vastly different Israel than the one portrayed in Turkish media. “I walked into the room, and I saw students from Ramallah… Jewish students and Muslim students are doing group work and are constantly together.”
In Jerusalem’s Old City
She was stunned to learn that Israel funds Palestinian students and permits protests and Palestinian flags on campus — hardly the “apartheid” state she’d been warned about.
Visiting the Al Aqsa Mosque revealed yet another falsehood. Turkish media claimed Jews barred Muslims from the site, but she discovered that both the Israeli soldiers and the Muslim guards “really need to be sure that you’re Muslim and then they let me in.” In contrast, Jews are the ones restricted from entering Al Aqsa and certain Arab neighborhoods.
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Turku embraced her diverse friend group. “Secular people, really religious Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze… we were such good friends!” she says. “Israel actually brought peace to its country.”
October 7th: A Turning Point
When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, Turku was terrified. “I thought they’re also coming for us.” Turku had reason to be afraid. Hamas terrorists were murdering and taking captive not only Jews, but also Israeli Muslims, foreign workers, and anyone in their path. She was appalled that the foreign media neglected to mention that fact. “The terrorists kidnapped Muslims, they destroyed Muslim neighborhoods as well, and they shot rockets at Al Aqsa and other mosques,” she says. “It’s the Iron Dome that’s saving Al Aqsa from the Islamists.”
The Turkish media’s coverage infuriated her. “They were celebrating the war! They were saying that the Palestinians are finally resisting. The way the Bibas family was kidnapped – the way they reported it was terrible! As if they invited them as guests! And how nicely the Hamas soldiers treated them because they covered Shiri Bibas with a blanket.”
” As Israel defended itself, Turkish news labeled it genocide. “They were so pro war on October 7th, but the moment Israel responded – now they hate war.”
Friends she’d known for years turned on her. “Even my friends were attacking me, ‘How can you support these baby killers?’ I was like, wait a minute, Israel didn’t even respond yet.”
She withdrew from social media, overwhelmed by the hate. “I decided to stop watching Turkish news… and I closed my Instagram account for a while.”
Even extended family condemned her. “What is Turku doing in Israel? Such a shame!” Her parents are left-wing opposition supporters. Though the opposition has never been pro-Israel, their leadership does not support terrorism and has publicly condemned Hamas. They do not collaborate with radical Islamists. Though Turku’s parents are understandably worried about her, they have remained steadfast, fully supporting her pursuit of truth in journalism and politics. “My father says, ‘Now you have to stay in Israel more. You cannot give up!’”
In contrast to the Turkish left, Turku finds Western leftist campus activism troubling. “There is too much respect for a group that will not respect them back,” she notes. “The left working together with radical Islamists… using the same words like resistance.”
The reaction to October 7th gave Turku a dose of clarity. “This is where I have to stand, not only because of Israel but also for my country. I can see from outside how Hamas is gaining strength in Turkey. It really bothers me, and I want to speak against it. And this is why I became a target.”
A Lone Voice for Truth
As the war went on, Turku felt that she had to speak up to reach a wider audience. She began creating videos and writing in English to reach global audiences. Her efforts were noticed by Turkish media, which branded her a traitor. “They found me somehow,” she says, “even though I do my videos in English.”
The backlash was terrifying. “We’re going to gang rape you,” and “We’re going to behead you,” were just some of the threats she received. Unsure how to respond, she turned to her father. “‘We were expecting this,’ he said. ‘You did something that no one can easily do.’” Her father is encouraging her to stay focused on becoming a good journalist.
Now exiled from her homeland, Turku hasn’t seen her parents since June. Due to the political situation in Turkey, her parents cannot come visit her in Israel either. Turku misses them and her younger brother very much.
She laughs that the Turkish media has accused her of being an Israeli spy paid by Israel, when in fact she struggles financially on a student visa and is not sure how long she will be able to remain in Israel.
Turku doesn’t know how speaking the truth will impact her life in the long run. At the moment, the situation is difficult and overwhelming but support from her Israeli friends keeps her grounded. A local Jewish family invited her to stay with them. “They said to me, ‘You shouldn’t be alone. Otherwise, you will be overthinking.’”
Despite the cost, Turku is undeterred. “I believe I can do good stuff for everyone: for Israel, for my country, for the Middle East.”
Follow Turku’s story on Instagram: @avciturku
The post Speaking the Truth at a Steep Price: A Turkish Student’s Struggle appeared first on Aish.com.
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Date: May 18, 2025
