10/10/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
The Tarlabaşı Community Center (TTM) was sealed following the dismissal of the “determination of absence” case, even though the closure case has not yet been concluded. TTM representatives stated: “The community center has not been closed; it was sealed without any legal justification.”
Association for Supporting Tarlabaşı Community (known as Tarlabaşı Community Center – TTM), which has been targeted for advocating LGBTI+ rights and subjected to a plenty of lawsuits, was sealed. On 8 October, TTM announced that their association building had been sealed as follows:
“The Association for Supporting Tarlabaşı Community, which has been working for eighteen years to create safe spaces for children and women in Tarlabaşı, was sealed on 8 October.
In Beyoğlu-Tarlabaşı, an area where poverty, discrimination, and gender inequality are deeply felt, the Association for Supporting Tarlabaşı Community (also known as Tarlabaşı Community Center - TTM) has faced increased targeting, legal, and administrative harassment since 2021. A new chapter in this harassment occurred on 8 October.
Shortly after the association’s employees, who have been working remotely for some time, entered the building, a commission assigned by the Beyoğlu District Governorship arrived at the premises. When asked about the purpose of their visit, the commission refused to provide any explanation and forced their way inside. When a justified decision document was requested, the commission summoned law enforcement. The police then sealed the building on the grounds of the district governorship’s decision, citing ‘unlicensed activity’ as the reason for the action.”
CLICK- Why do they want to close down the Tarlabaşı Community Center?
“TTM has not been closed, it has been sealed without any legal justification”
In its statement, Tarlabaşı Community Center affirmed that it has been actively resisting various forms of oppression and violence for over three years, alongside volunteers, staff, human rights defenders, and the women and children of the neighborhood. They emphasized:
“Tarlabaşı Community Center has stood against different forms of oppression for more than 3 years with its volunteers, employees, human rights defenders, and all the community members, including the women and children of the neighborhood. For 18 years, the Center has been the name of the building and the safe space we have built together, infused with the memory of Tarlabaşı.
As we have said many times before, we say it once again: The Center is deep-rooted. We will continue our fight against any attempts to erase its vibrancy, and against closing its terrace to the open sky.
The memory of Tarlabaşı, and thus the memory of TTM, is one of oppression, persecution, and displacement—but it is also a memory of resistance and solidarity.
To those who target us, spread smear campaigns, shared information about the lawsuit before the association officials were even informed, and posted that ‘TTM has been closed’ on their platforms when TTM itself had not announced anything: TTM HAS NOT BEEN CLOSED, IT HAS BEEN SEALED WITHOUT ANY LEGAL JUSTIFICATION.
We will continue to pursue our rights through legal channels, defend our freedom of association, and proudly say: ‘So glad we have TTM!’”
What had happened?
Association for Supporting Tarlabaşı Community (known as Tarlabaşı Community Center – TTM), which is a model for community centers in Beyoğlu – Tarlabaşı where poverty, discrimination and gender inequality were experienced over and over, is in a danger of closure.
The association, which was pointed as a target by some of media via defamation news since June 25, 2021, was audited several times during June – September 2021. Following the audits two separate suits were filed against the center.
A lawsuit was filed against the association by the Governorship of İstanbul at the 8th Civil Court of Peace, demanding the declaration of the expiration of the association automatically on account of the fact that “it has become impossible to realize the purpose of the association”. The first trial of the file was heard on April 14, on Thursday, at 8th Civil Court of Peace, at 11.45 am. Ministry of Family and Social Services also made a request to get involve in the case with the Governorship. Attorneys of TTM said: “
An action for annulment of the association was also brought on the grounds of “contrariety to law and morality” at the 18th Civil Court of First Instance, with the indictment prepared by Public Prosecutor of İstanbul. The first trial of this file was heard on May, 18, 2022. “Cease and desist order” about the association was removed within the context of the case, on April, 6 upon the application of TTM. Ministry of Family also demanded involvement to the case with the Governorship. Attorneys of TTM had said “How a an association, which has been working with public enterprises for 15 years, be absent!” The case had been postponed to September 29.
An action for annulment of the association was also brought on the grounds of “contrariety to law and morality” at the 18th Civil Court of First Instance, with the indictment prepared by Public Prosecutor of İstanbul. The first trial of this file was heard on May, 18, 2022. “Cease and desist order” about the association was removed within the context of the case, on April, 6 upon the application of TTM. The case was postponed to November 2, at 11.30 am.
TTM has organized a volunteering activity on June, 27, in 2021, in which the guidebook titled “How to Protect LGBTI+ Students against Family and School Gripper?” prepared by Kaos GL, would be discussed. However this activity was pointed as a target in the media. Hate speech, targeting and defamations went on systematically until February, 9, 2022 and became widespread.
Having been targeted by the media, Ministry of Family and Social Services Beyoğlu District Directorate, Department of Social Services paid a visit to the association. Four days later, an audit by General Directorate of Civil Society Relations was started. The association was neither informed about the audit conclusions, nor the visit. On the other side Police Department Youth Service, took Chair of the Executive Board’s testimony within the claim of “crime of obscenity” on July, 19. The investigation resulted in non-prosecution. The audit which caused to suit several files against the association, was carried out by the Association Auditors from Ministry of Interior between July 26 and August 20, in 2021.
TTM, were able to take information related to the audit conclusions via the reports and annex, which were submitted to the case file, that were brought with the claims of “determination of absence” and “annulment of the association”. The first case is related to “determination of absence”.
The association hardly learned the second suit filed against it, via media. Following a news indicating a case against the association at the headline of Milat newspaper, which rang up the curtain for the defamation process, on February 9, lawyers of the association took information from the courthouse and learned that there had also been an action for annulment about the association, on February 10. Although the suits were filed on the grounds of “contrariety to law and morality”, actions concatenated within the context of the indictment for public interest, do not constitute a crime which would result in annulment of the association. Some issues which may result in administrative fine, like missing in ledger records, organizing educations without receiving permission, failure to asseverate publications of the association to Office of Chief Public Prosecutor, took place in the indictment. In addition, LGBTI+ related statements of the association, included in the report, which was prepared by the association's auditors and formed the basis of the case, as “obscenity” in an unlawful and discriminatory manner. LGBTI+’s fundamental rights and freedoms were also included in the report and the indictment as follows: “people known as LGBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, travesty, intersex) in short, who try to influence gender identity of children by normalizing their sexual orientation, in the society.”
Tags: human rights
