20/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Detained on 18 February, Tar was asked about civil society activities, professional and social relations. The conversations with women and LGBTI+ activists were shown as a criminal offence.
On 18 February Tuesday morning, KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, who was detained in Ankara during the operation against the Peoples' Democratic Congress, completed testimony in Istanbul last night.
According to the news in MLSA, among the questions directed to Tar, there were also details about civil society activities as well as personal social media accounts, professional and social relations.
In addition, Tar was asked questions such as ‘whether they are a member of any trade union or association’ and ‘whether they have taken part in the HDK’. Tar was also asked about the HDK's activities, organisational structure, and financial resources.
Tar's phone calls and messages related to various civil society activities were also included in the interrogation. As part of the wiretaps, Tar was also asked to explain the messages they received from different people regarding the dates and times of meetings.
Tar's conversations with activists were shown as a criminal offence
As part of the investigation, Tar was also asked about the people they had spoken to, and their meetings with women’s rights defenders and LGBTI+ activists were presented as criminal evidence. In their statement, Yıldız Tar stated that they had volunteered with the Boğaziçi University LGBTI+ community and had met with feminist groups in the context of March 8 International Women’s Day events. Tar also emphasized that they have been working as a journalist since 2013 and have attended all events in a journalistic capacity.
Tar is expected to be brought to court on Friday.
What happened?
Several members of EMEP, SYKP and HDK were detained in house raids in Istanbul 18 February morning. Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office announced that 60 people were detained.
KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar is among those detained. Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) announced that Tar, who was detained in Ankara, is expected to be taken to Istanbul. It is learnt that Tar is banned to see a lawyer for 24 hours as part of the investigation.
MLSA Legal Unit objected to the confidentiality order, confiscation of digital materials and 24-hour ban on seeing a lawyer after the detention of journalists Yıldız Tar and Elif Akgül.
MLSA made the following post:
"It is learned that journalist Yıldız Tar, who was detained in Ankara as part of the Istanbul based operation, was taken to Ankara TEM. Tar is expected to be brought to Istanbul."
Among those detained are journalists Ercüment Akdeniz and Elif Akgül, artist Pınar Aydınlar, EMEP Istanbul Provincial Chair Sema Barbaros, Green Left Party MYK member Naci Sönmez, DEM Party MYK member Mehmet Saltoğlu Semiha Şahin, SYKP PM members Halit Elçi and Ahmet Saymadi, and ecology rights activist Ümit Şahin.
Kaos GL Association made the following statement:
"As Kaos GL Association, we demand the immediate release of Yıldız Tar.
We emphasise once again that we will resolutely continue our struggle to ensure the safety of journalists and human rights defenders, to prevent attacks from going unpunished and to protect freedom of expression.
It should not be forgotten that the active presence of a free press and civil society guarantees not only the LGBTI+ community but also everyone's access to human rights and the social awareness required for the establishment of justice. A Turkey where the public's right to information is respected and different voices can find equal expression is the common aspiration of all of us."
Tags: human rights, media
