25/06/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
LGBTI+ associations issued a joint statement after Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, who had been detained during operations carried out ahead of the NATO Summit, was remanded in custody by a court today. The associations called for Tar’s immediate release.
LGBTI+ associations issued a joint statement following the arrest of Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief and journalist Yıldız Tar by a court today. Tar had been detained during operations carried out ahead of the NATO Summit. Calling for Tar’s release, the associations said:
“The arrest of Yıldız Tar is not an isolated judicial decision. This arrest is a new link in a chain of political repression that has long targeted human rights defenders, journalists, the feminist movement, the LGBT+ movement, and the democratic opposition.”
The associations said that the targeting of a large number of people as part of the same operation was no coincidence. They argued that the government has turned security policies into a tool for restricting fundamental rights and freedoms and is attempting to criminalize social and political opposition. The statement continued:
“Ankara has been under extraordinary security measures for days. However, no international summit, no security justification can legitimately justify suspending freedom of expression, the right to association, and personal liberty. Restricting the democratic space under the guise of security does not strengthen the rule of law, but rather increases political repression.”
“In a country where journalists are punished, society cannot reach the truth”
The associations emphasized that Tar’s arrest carries a political message aimed at silencing independent journalism, preventing human rights violations from being made visible, and undermining the public’s right to access information:
“Yıldız Tar is not just a journalist. For years, they have been a human rights defender documenting hate crimes, making discrimination visible, documenting human rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals, and informing the public. Their arrest does not only mean the deprivation of their personal freedom. This decision is a political message aimed at silencing independent journalism, preventing human rights violations from becoming visible, and eliminating the public's right to information. In a country where journalists are punished, society cannot reach the truth. In a country where human rights defenders are targeted, one cannot speak of equality and democracy.”
Reaffirming their commitment to continue their struggle, the associations stated that “the struggle for human rights cannot be silenced by judicial decisions” and called for Tar’s immediate release:
“In recent years, LGBTI+ people have been systematically targeted by hate campaigns. The government's "Year of the Family" policies, legal preparations that institutionalize hate speech, bans on meetings and demonstrations, attempts to close down associations and constant targeting; They are part of a broader political strategy aimed at eliminating the LGBTI+ movement from the public sphere. Yıldız Tar's arrest is not independent of this political climate. Deprivation of freedom of a journalist defending LGBTI+ rights; It is an intimidation aimed not only at one person, but at the entire LGBTI+ movement, independent media and the struggle for human rights.”
The full statement: Release Yıldız Tar Immediately! Our colleague Yıldız Tar, Editor-in-Chief of Kaos GL, journalist, and LGBTI+ rights advocate, was arrested following house raids conducted before the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8. The arrest of Yıldız Tar is not an isolated judicial decision. This arrest is a new link in a chain of political repression that has long targeted human rights defenders, journalists, the feminist movement, the LGBT+ movement, and the democratic opposition. In operations carried out right before the NATO Summit, 209 people were detained. It is no coincidence that women's rights advocates, LGBTI+ activists, lawyers, academics, trade union and labor organization representatives, young people, and members of democratic organizations were targeted in the same operation. This situation once again demonstrates that the government is using security policies as a tool to restrict fundamental rights and freedoms and is attempting to criminalize the opposition. Ankara has been under extraordinary security measures for days. However, no international summit, no security justification can legitimately justify suspending freedom of expression, the right to association, and personal liberty. Restricting the democratic space under the guise of security does not strengthen the rule of law, but rather increases political repression. This process, when considered alongside the arrests that followed the Ankara Pride March, which took place despite the bans, should be interpreted as part of a systematic policy targeting the LGBTI+ movement and all democratic sectors in solidarity with it. They are trying to silence journalism Yıldız Tar is not just a journalist. For years, they have been a human rights defender documenting hate crimes, making discrimination visible, documenting human rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals, and informing the public. Their arrest does not only mean the deprivation of their personal freedom. This decision is a political message aimed at silencing independent journalism, preventing human rights violations from becoming visible, and eliminating the public's right to information. In a country where journalists are punished, society cannot reach the truth. In a country where human rights defenders are targeted, one cannot speak of equality and democracy. It is part of policies targeting the LGBTI+ movement In recent years, LGBTI+ people have been systematically targeted by hate campaigns. The government's "Year of the Family" policies, legal preparations that institutionalize hate speech, bans on meetings and demonstrations, attempts to close down associations and constant targeting; They are part of a broader political strategy aimed at eliminating the LGBTI+ movement from the public sphere. Yıldız Tar's arrest is not independent of this political climate. Deprivation of freedom of a journalist defending LGBTI+ rights; It is an intimidation aimed not only at one person, but at the entire LGBTI+ movement, independent media and the struggle for human rights. But we know that the truth cannot be arrested. Solidarity cannot be criminalized. The struggle for human rights cannot be silenced by judicial decisions. Defending Human Rights is not a crime. International human rights conventions to which Türkiye is a party guarantee freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to association, and the protection of human rights defenders. The state's obligation is not to punish journalists and human rights defenders, but to ensure that they can work safely. The measure of a democratic society is not the silencing of critical voices, but their ability to speak freely. Our Call to Immediate Action We, the undersigned organizations, demand: • The immediate release of Yıldız Tar, • An end to the unlawful and arbitrary practices used as grounds for detentions and arrests, • An end to the criminalization of journalistic activities, human rights advocacy, and democratic organizing efforts, • The guarantee of freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the right to organize. We will continue to strengthen solidarity against the repressive policies targeting journalists, human rights defenders, feminists, lawyers, academics, trade unions, labor organizations, and the democratic opposition. Because we know that the attack on Yıldız Tar's freedom today is an attack on all of our fundamental rights and freedoms. Yıldız Tar is not alone. Journalism is not a crime. LGBTI+ rights advocacy is not a crime. Human rights advocacy is not a crime. Release Yıldız Tar immediately! Signatory organizations
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Tags: human rights, media, arts and culture, life
