The trial of journalist Yıldız Tar, who is charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of the HDK investigation, has been adjourned until 23 February 2026. The court ruled to continue the travel ban and to return the confiscated digital materials

DENİZ NAZLIM, ANKARA

The first hearing in the trial of Yıldız Tar, Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org, who is being charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” as part of the People's Democratic Congress (HDK) investigation, was held at the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court on 13 October 2025.

Tar and his lawyers were present at the hearing, which was monitored by P24.

Due to the absence of the presiding judge of the 17th High Criminal Court, the hearing was held in the courtroom of the 21st Heavy Penal Court, presided over by a senior judge.

The hearing was observed by the embassies of Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, and Norway, as well as the European Union Delegation to Turkey; DEM Party Ankara Provincial Directorate; DEM Party MP Özgür Saki; TİP MP Ahmet Şık; DİSK Basın-İş (Revolutionary Workers' Unions Confederation Press-Workers' Union), ÜniKuir Association, 17 May Human Rights School, Ankara Bar Association LGBTI+ Commission, Human Rights Association (İHD), Rainbow Families Association (GALADER), Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), Civil Society Development Center Association (STGM), Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, Inter Solidarity, Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, and Kaos GL Association.

The hearing began after the identification process.

In his defense, Tar stated that he has been known to the public as “Yıldız Tar” since 2010 and that he has initiated legal proceedings to change his name on his ID accordingly. He said that he had been working as a journalist since 2013, that he had started his career with the aim of “being the voice of the voiceless,” and that she had mainly worked in areas such as LGBT+ issues, femicide, Alevis, migrants, worker-labor struggles, and attacks against Kurds. Tar said that he served as editor-in-chief at Kaos GL, that his programs and articles appeared in various national and international media outlets, and that he received awards for his journalism activities.

Regarding the charges, Tar denied the allegation of “membership in a terrorist organization,” stating that his membership was limited to LGBT+ associations and professional organizations and that he was not a member of any political parties. He said his connection to the HDK was limited to attending meetings organized with open calls for the purpose of reporting on them as part of his journalistic activities. Arguing that the alleged connection in the indictment was fabricated based on statements made by Abdullah Öcalan, Tar referred to Öcalan's call for a parliamentary commission and said, “If this comment is a crime, then Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, who made similar statements, should also be prosecuted.”

Tar stated that the accuracy of the recordings based on telephone conversations and an environment recording from 2012–2013 was questionable, that a long time had passed, and that telephone conversations for news purposes had been included in the indictment as evidence of a crime. “It is also a constitutional right to monitor these actions for news purposes,” said Tar, adding that the wiretap recording allegedly under the name “Tarık” could not belong to him, as he has been known as “Yıldız” in both public and private spheres for a long time.

Tar stated that he had purchased a short-term round-trip ticket to the UK for work purposes before his arrest, adding, “I will continue journalism in this country; I have no intention of leaving my homeland.” Requesting his acquittal, Tar asked for the lifting of the ban on leaving the country and the monthly sign in requirement.

Destroyed tapes in the file

Lawyer Veysel Ok stated that Tar was detained from his home at 4:30 a.m. and argued that the indictment was “not in accordance with the law.” Ok said that eight pages of the nine-page indictment consisted of telephone conversations, while one page was a “personal story.” Stating that they objected to the court's decision to accept the indictment, Ok said that the text presented the HDK as a terrorist organization through the DTK and attempted to equate two separate structures in violation of the principle of “no analogy in law.” He reminded that the HDK is a democratic platform without legal personality, comprising numerous civil society organizations and individuals; that HDK spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş is a member of a parliamentary committee and is recognized by the government; and that Sırrı Süreyya Önder is also among the founders of the HDK.

Ok stated that Tar's participation in an HDK meeting in 2012 was included in the indictment and that the court decision regarding the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) was issued in 2019, adding, “The prosecution is now considering legal activities from seven years ago as crimes.” He stated that they submitted the court decision regarding the HDK not being a terrorist organization to the case file, and that the decision stated that there was no administrative or judicial determination that the HDK was a terrorist organization.

Stating that the wiretaps were obtained unlawfully, Ok said that the tapes had previously been destroyed and that non-original tapes were in the file, adding that the four-month wiretapping period had been exceeded and that Tar had been wiretapped for 18 months.

Ok said that the prosecutor and judge who ordered the wiretapping of Tar were detained in the Selam and Tehvid operations and convicted of being members of the organization.

Demanding “immediate acquittal,” Ok requested that the tape recordings in the file be removed and that the ban on leaving the country and the obligation to sign in once a month be lifted.

Lawyer Batıkan Erkoç presented a defense regarding the digital materials. Reminding the court that his client is a journalist and has the right not to disclose his news sources under the Press Law, Erkoç said that Tar's flash drive and phone were seized and that the police conducted a digital investigation by taking images. Erkoç noted that according to the records, no evidence of a crime had been found. He stated that the only procedure carried out since 17 February 2025, was a digital investigation, and that no crime had been found in this investigation either, requesting the return of the digital materials. He emphasized that the phone tapping recordings had been destroyed and that destroyed tapes could not be considered evidence. Referring to the case law of the Constitutional Court, Erkoç recalled the decisions stating that the travel ban imposed on journalists constituted an interference with freedom of expression and requested acquittal.

The prosecutor requested that the judicial control measures against Tar continue.

The court cleared the courtroom and adjourned for deliberation.

After the recess, the court panel adjourned the case until 23 February 2026. The court ruled to continue the travel ban but decided to lift the signature requirement and return the digital materials (phones and portable memory devices) seized by the police.

Background of the case

Yıldız Tar was taken into custody from his home in Ankara on 18 February as part of the HDK investigation and was imprisoned pending trial on 21 February by the court for “membership in a terrorist organization.” Tar was released on 30 May after approximately four months in detention.