10/03/2025 | Writer: Defne Güzel
In February, KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar was arrested, the draft law on the Civil Code and Penal Code targeting LGBTI+'s came to the agenda. Politicians competed to target LGBTI+’s.
In the operation organised against the Peoples' Democratic Congress, KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar was arrested. While Tar's participation in peaceful protests and meetings with activists were criminalised, a draft law that would make life more difficult for LGBTI+’s was also on the agenda.
Violations
Detention for LGBTI+ slogans, obstacle to rainbow colours... While hate continues to exist in various forms, KaosGL.org has reached a draft law that will make the lives of LGBTI+'s more and more difficult.
- Obstacle to the rainbow umbrella: During the protest organised on 18 February in Kadıköy, Istanbul against the detention of 52 people, including KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, the police tried to prevent the rainbow umbrella from entering the area.
- 14 February protest detained for ‘LGBTI+ slogan’: Dozens of feminists were detained for ‘LGBTI+ slogans’ at the 14 February Valentine's Day demonstration of Women Together Strong in Kadıköy, Istanbul. All detainees were released later that night.
- Trans woman attempted suicide: It was learnt that a trans woman who attempted suicide in a post shared on social media platform X in February was fined.
- Trans woman Cansu ended her life: 20 November Association announced that Cansu, a trans woman living in Izmir, ended her life.
- LGBTI+s are targeted again in Diyanet's sermon: Diyanet, which devoted its entire sermon in January to targeting LGBTI+s, used the expression ‘desexualisation’ in its sermon in February.
- Zeki Bayraktar targeted: Urologist Prof. Dr Zeki Bayraktar targeted trans people by stating that adaptation process operations are a ‘deception’.
- Ankara Metropolitan Municipality does not provide services to LGBTI+’s: Ankara Metropolitan Municipality responded to Kaos GL's questions and stated that it does not provide services to LGBTI+’s.
- Ministry of Labour left questions about LGBTI+s unanswered: The Ministry of Labour, which answered the questions posed by Kaos GL, reminded the principle of equality, but left questions about LGBTI+’s unanswered.
- KYK left questions about LGBTI+s unanswered: The General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories responded to Kaos GL's request for information. It claimed that LGBTI+ students are not discriminated against and left the question about the dismissal of LGBTI+s from dormitories unanswered.
- LGBTI+s are targeted in the draft law proposal: According to the draft law proposal reached by KaosGL.org, the expression ‘biological sex’ will be added to the penal code. LGBTI+ forms of expression in the public sphere will be penalised, legal procedures regarding the gender affirmation process will become more difficult.
- KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar was arrested: On 18 February, Yıldız Tar was detained and arrested in the operation against the Peoples' Democratic Congress, and her meetings with LGBTI+ activists and women's rights defenders were cited as a criminal offence. Among those arrested are KaosGL.org writers Ayşe Panuş, Elif Akgül and Erkin Barın Göylüler, who work in the field of LGBTI+ rights. Yıldız Tar gave the message ‘continue the struggle’ and KaosGL.org started a solidarity and letter campaign.
Targeting
Perversion, desexualisation, propaganda... Similar sentences again became the justification for targeting and discrimination against LGBTI+s.
- Targeting by HUDA PAR MP: HUDA PAR MP Faruk Dinç demanded an access ban on TikTok at a press conference in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. He targeted LGBTI+'s by saying “perversion”.
- Psychologist Hüseyin Kaçın is on the stage: Speaking to Yeni Akit, Kaçın targeted gender affirmation surgeries.
- The President spoke at the AKP Women's Branch Congress: President Erdoğan targeted LGBTI+'s by calling them “perversion”.
- Family Minister targeted LGBTI+’s: Speaking at the meeting of the Women's Commission of Eğitim Bir-Sen (Education Union-Sen), Minister Göktaş targeted LGBTI+'s with the expression “desexualisation”.
- Chairman of the Digital Media Commission targeted LGBTI+’s: AKP MP and Commission Chairman Hüseyin Yayman targeted LGBTI+s with the words ‘desexualisation’ and ‘LGBT propaganda’ in an interview with TRT Haber.
- Mil-Diyanet Sen signature campaigns: In February, branches of Mil Diyanet Sen organised signature campaigns in various provinces for the closure of LGBTI+ associations. Campaigns in 27 different provinces were reported in the press.
Course of the cases
LGBTI+ activist Iris Mozalar was acquitted. Defendants in the Eskişehir Pride March case told about the torture they were subjected to.
- Iris Mozalar acquitted: The trial of LGBTI+ activist Iris Mozalar, who criticised the attacks on Syrian refugees, was first held on 12 February and then adjourned to 26 February. On 26 February, Mozalar was acquitted in the third hearing of the case.
- Eskişehir Pride March Trial: The first hearing of the lawsuit filed against ten people who were detained in front of the Nation Monument in Eskişehir in 2024 before they could make a press statement was held on 18 February. The defendants described the torture they were subjected to and the case was adjourned to 9 April.
- Postponement in Derya Dağyolu case: The appeal hearing of the case against Derya Dağyolu, a disabled trans woman who was attacked by a man named Halil G. and was in intensive care for days, was held on 21 February. Since the defendant Halil G. did not come to the hearing again, the case was adjourned to 25 April.
- Activist commemorating 6 February on trial: 11 LGBTI+ activists who were on trial for the 6 February earthquake commemoration were acquitted. This time, a lawsuit was filed against one of the acquitted activists for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The trial scheduled for 13 February was postponed.
- The case regarding the attack on Bornova Street: The person who attacked trans woman Ç.A. on 16 January and was arrested afterwards was released at the first hearing of the case held on 20 February.
Tags: human rights, women, media, life, labour, family, health
