Turkish Journalist and Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar Arrested in Ankara

Turkish journalist and editor-in-chief of the LGBT publication Kaos GL, Yıldız Tar, has been arrested in Ankara on charges of involvement in a terrorist organization. The journalist was detained on June 23 during mass raids conducted ahead of a NATO summit. On June 25, a court authorized his arrest.

While in the Sincan high-security prison, Tar relayed a message through Kaos GL. In his statement, he expressed the view that the true reason for his criminal prosecution is his homosexuality and public stance. The journalist described himself as a “prisoner of the war waged against LGBTQ+ people.”

According to Tar, during the interrogation, investigators asked questions about his publications criticizing state policy regarding the family. He also noted that pressure on the LGBT community in Turkey has been ongoing for the past ten years, mentioning restrictions on hormone therapy and censorship on social media. At the end of his message, Yıldız Tar wished his supporters a Happy Pride Month.