This morning, we have learned with great concern that, as part of an Istanbul-based operation conducted this morning, detention warrants were issued for 60 individuals, including human rights defenders, journalists, artists, and politicians, and at least 52 people were taken into custody through home raids.
We are deeply saddened to learn that Yıldız Tar, an LGBTİ+ rights defender from our member organization Kaos GL Association and Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org, has also been detained in Ankara. Yıldız Tar is a journalist and human rights defender who has carried out significant work in the field of human rights, particularly LGBTİ+ rights.
These detentions targeting human rights defenders, journalists, artists, and politicians are unacceptable attacks on freedom of expression, press, and association. Safeguarding these rights, which are the cornerstone of a democratic society, is a responsibility we all share.
The state has an obligation to ensure that human rights defenders and civil society can freely express their demands and opinions, and to guarantee the security of these activities. Likewise, civil society organizations have a responsibility not to remain silent in the face of human rights violations.
As the Youth Organizations Forum, we demand the immediate release of all human rights defenders, particularly Yıldız Tar. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continue our struggle to ensure the safety of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society, and to protect their right to freedom of expression.
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Youth Organizations Forum
