12/08/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
The Council of Europe, in a statement on its official X account, said: “The arrest of Congress youth delegate Enes Hocaoğulları for speaking at a democratic forum is deeply concerning.”
On World Youth Day (12 August), the Council of Europe reacted to the arrest of Enes Hocaoğulları in a statement on its official X account.
In its statement, the Council called for Hocaoğulları’s release, reaffirming the importance of freedom of expression:
“On Youth Day, we reaffirm the importance of freedom of expression.
The arrest of Congress youth delegate Enes Hocaoğulları for speaking at a democratic forum is deeply concerning.
Youth voices must be protected, not silenced.
#FreeEnes”
The arrest of Enes Hocaoğulları has also been met with criticism by human rights organizations and activists in Turkey and internationally.
What happened?
Enes Hocaoğulları, a youth delegate to the Council of Europe and an LGBTI+ activist, was taken into custody on August 5 immediately upon landing at Ankara Esenboğa Airport and was arrested the same day.
Hocaoğulları, who serves as the youth delegate representing Türkiye at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for arrest following his statement taken by the prosecutor.
Two separate investigations had been launched against Hocaoğulları, by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Anti Terror Crimes Bureau and the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Press Crimes Bureau, on charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” over his speech at the Council of Europe. These two investigation files were later merged in Ankara.
Our friend, whose statement was taken directly by the prosecutor, was referred to the court with a request for arrest on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information,” upon the prosecutor’s request.
The court ordered Hocaoğulları’s arrest.
LGBTI+ associations issued a joint statement against the arrest decision, saying: “We stand with Enes Hocaoğulları and demand his immediate release.”
Tags: human rights, life, lgbti
