Detention and Investigation Targeting Kaos GL Association and Its Activists
As part of an Ankara-based investigation, members of the Kaos GL board of directors were detained in home raids, while access restrictions were imposed on the websites and social media accounts of numerous associations and activists.
Board and audit committee members of the Kaos GL Association along with more than ten activists were detained in operations on charges of obscenity and violation of the Law on Associations. On the same day, access restrictions were imposed on the digital media of numerous rights organizations by court order.
Detention and Operation Investigation
Police conducted house raids on the primary and substitute members of the board of directors and audit committee of the Kaos GL Association, and a search was carried out at the association's office. More than ten LGBTI+ activists were detained within the scope of the investigation.
Obscenity Charge and Rationale
The investigation, conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Bureau of Informatics Crimes, cited the association's website and social media posts as grounds. By decision of the Ankara 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace, it was claimed that the posts could be seen by children.
Simultaneous Searches in Istanbul
Under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, simultaneous operations were carried out by Istanbul Police Department and Gendarmerie teams at numerous addresses in Beyoğlu and Şişli. Nightclubs and massage parlors were searched.
Institutions Facing Access Bans
By decision of the Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace, access bans were imposed on the websites of Kaos GL as well as the May 17 Association, ÜniKuir, Pembe Hayat, SPoD, Genç LGBTİ+, Lambdaistanbul, Muamma LGBTİ+, and Velvele.
Restrictions on Activists' Accounts
According to information shared by the Freedom of Expression Association, access restriction decisions were issued regarding the social media accounts of Yıldız Tar, Levent Pişkin, Seyhan Arman, Zeynep Esmeray Özadikti, and Enes Hocaoğulları.
Status of Social Media Platforms
While the X platform complied with the access restriction decisions by making the relevant accounts invisible from Turkey, it was reported that Instagram had not yet implemented the decisions.