Statement from LGBTI+ organisations on detentions: ‘The voice of Yıldız and Erkin is our voice!’

19/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL

LGBTI+ organisations issued a joint statement on the detention of KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar and LGBTI+ activist Erkin, who were detained in house raids in the morning hours yesterday..

Photo: Fatoş Sarıkaya / csgorselarsiv.org

LGBTI+ organisations issued a statement on the detention of KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar and LGBTI+ rights activist Erkin in house raids carried out within the scope of an Istanbul-based operation.

Kaos GL, 20 Kasım, Genç LGBTI+, ÜniKuir, Muamma, GALADER, 7 Renk, Özgür Renkler, SPoD, 17 Mayıs, LİSTAG, HEVİ, Lambdaİstanbul and Pembe Hayat associations signed the statement:

"We are not afraid, we are not silent, we defend the truth!

This morning, dozens of people from journalists to politicians, rights defenders to artists were unlawfully detained in an Istanbul-based political operation. LGBTI+ rights activist Erkin and journalist and human rights defender Yıldız Tar were also detained.

Yıldız's and Erkin's voice is our voice!

With these operations, not only individuals, but everyone who struggles for rights is targeted. Among those detained are human rights defender and journalist Yıldız Tar, who has been reporting on the violence we have been subjected to for years, and our comrade Erkin, who is part of our struggle.

By declaring 2025 as the Year of the Family, we call out to the AKP government, which tries to discriminate against LGBTI+s and discriminatory policies and hate speech to discredit the LGBTI+ rights struggle: Stop attacking LGBTI+ people and our rights. Release Erkin and Yıldız Tar."

What happened?

Many members of EMEP, SYKP and HDK were detained in house raids in Istanbul yesterday (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 from seeing lawyer for 24 hours as part of the investigation.

On the morning of 19 February, the ban on meeting with lawyers was lifted.

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.

Tags: human rights, media