21/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Forces of Labour, Peace and Democracy made a statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse regarding the detention of 52 people, including Yıldız Tar. Trans Pride Week Committee said, ‘We are here and we don't intend to go anywhere’.
Photo: Yusuf Çelik
Within the scope of the investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), 52 people, including KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, were detained on 18 February.
The detainees were referred to the courthouse after the completion of their procedures at the police station.
Istanbul Labour, Peace and Democracy Forces held a press statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse. Istanbul Trans Pride Week Committee also read a statement. Yusuf, who read the press statement on behalf of the committee, said the following:
"Yıldız and Erkin, with whom we walked shoulder to shoulder in the LGBTI+ struggle, were also detained in the operations. Those who declared 2025 as the Family Year are attacking LGBTI+'s at full speed. This is also an indicator of this. Yıldız's interviews with women and LGBTI+s in 2015 and the actions she participated in were constituted as a crime. These questions were asked to create a crime.
We will not stop our struggle neither inside nor outside. We are talking about a fascist regime One of the most fundamental founding elements of this regime is LGBTI+ and trans hostility. LGBTI+'s are also the most hit by poverty. Due to LGBTI+ phobia, we are prevented from employment and pushed into sex work. We need to fight against this together with many institutions and organisations.
Yıldız is also a press worker, the free press will never, ever be silenced.
We are familiar with these detentions and arrests. Our marches have been prevented since 2015. But we know well how to seep through the cracks. The struggle of everyone detained is our struggle. Long live the trans struggle. Get used to it or make peace. We are here and we don't intend to go anywhere."
Tags: human rights, media
