8 people were arrested within the scope of the operation carried out under the name "My Family is Safe" against LGBTI+ rights defenders and associations in Ankara.
Journalist Tuğba Tekerek, one of those arrested in this context, was accused of "obscenity in places where children can see it", "intermediating the publication of obscene publications" and "opposition to the Law on Associations".
In his police statement, Tekerek was asked questions about the structure, financing and social media accounts of Kaos GL. Kolluk asked Tekerek, "It has been determined that you are the administrator of Kaos GL's Instagram account. Please make a statement about this issue."
Tekerek said that he did not know Kaos GL's Instagram account, that he was not the administrator of the account and that he did not actively use Instagram. Tekerek was also asked about the financing of the association, membership fees, grants received, hierarchical structure of the association, financial audit, how new members are appointed and the communication groups used by the members. Tekerek answered these questions, "I have no information."
"I WENT TO GEORGIA IN 2024 TO FOLLOW THE ELECTIONS"
Kolluk then showed Tekerek eight posts from Kaos GL's Instagram account. It was stated that one of these posts was Tekerek's news about the LGBTI+ movement in Georgia.
Tekerek explained that he went to the country in 2024 with an international group of journalists to follow the Georgian elections and made various news by meeting with different politicians and civil society representatives. Tekerek stated that he prepared the news from his meeting with the representative of a non-governmental organization working in the field of LGBTI+, and said that he sent the news to Kaos GL in return for royalty fee. He said, "I also met with the representative of the LGBT association, which is a legal NGO in Georgia, on an election basis. I sent this news to Kaos GL in return for the royalty fee."
"I AM A JOURNALIST, I DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME"
The police showed Tekerek photographs of 17 people and asked if he knew these people. Tekerek said that he only knew one person from the time he volunteered at Mor Çatı about 20 years ago, and that he did not know the other people. Tekerek emphasized his journalistic activity in his police statement and said, "I am a journalist, I make news on various subjects. It is published on different sites. Only one of the thousands of news published in my 20-year journalism history was published on the Kaos GL news site. I did not commit any crime."
"I WAS BROUGHT HERE BECAUSE I MADE NEWS"
Tekerek, who was transferred from Istanbul to Ankara, also testified at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor's office referred Tekerek to the judgeship, requesting his arrest along with the members of Kaos GL's management and supervisory board. During his interrogation at the Ankara 6th Criminal Court of Peace, Tekerek stated that he did not have any corporate ties with Kaos GL. Tekerek stated that he was associated with Kaos GL because of the news he made to follow the Georgian elections and said, "I was brought here because I was a journalist because I made a news about Kaos GL."
TEKEREK'S LAWYER: CLAIM OF LIABILITY SALLApati
Tekerek's lawyer Nurdan Kılıç also objected to the claim that her client manages Kaos GL's Instagram account. Kılıç said, "We are of the opinion that the police made the Instagram responsible claim against the client as a scam. This could have been detected, there was no detection by cyber." Kılıç also submitted documents to the judge showing that Tekerek had given news to Kaos GL in exchange for royalties. Kılıç stated that Tekerek has a fixed residence and that there is no suspicion of him escaping or tampering with evidence, and demanded that his client be released, otherwise judicial control should be imposed.
Ankara 6th Criminal Court of Peace decided to arrest 8 people, including Tekerek. In the judge's decision, the people's "positions within the association, law enforcement investigation reports and posts on Kaos GL's social media and website" were accepted as concrete evidence showing strong suspicion of crime. In the decision, it was noted that there was a possibility that the suspects would escape and obscure the evidence, and that judicial control measures would be insufficient.
Arrested Journalist Tuğba Tekerek and Kaos GL members were sent to Sincan Prison.
