Hundreds of students, faculty, and local residents gathered at Istanbul University’s Cerrahpasa School of Medicine on April 26 to protest a bill that would split-up the faculties of Istanbul University.

The bill, approved by parliament’s Education Commission on Wednesday, aims to transfer some Istanbul University faculties to the new İbni Sina University, Hurriyet reported. The Cerrahpasa School of Medicine would be one of the faculties moved.

According to left-wing news outlet Birgün, Vice-Chancellor and professor at the Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Dr. Bayram Mert Savrun, resigned from his post over the proposed division of the university.

“This project aims to destroy Istanbul University. We will not accept the uprooting of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine or the Cerrahpasa School of Medicine,” said professor Pınar Saip, head of Istanbul Medical Chamber and a member of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine told Hurriyet.

The new law would also split Ankara’s Gazi University, in addition to creating 20 new universities across the country. Credit: hakan.hasancebi via Storyful