MLSA - Lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) visited jailed journalists Yıldız Tar and Ercüment Akdeniz at Silivri Prison on April 8, reporting that both are in good health and high spirits.
According to the MLSA legal team, Tar and Akdeniz expressed their gratitude for the continued support from their colleagues and the journalism community. The two emphasized that such solidarity has given them strength and made clear: “We don’t want to be forgotten.”
The journalists also said they were hopeful about recent political developments following a speech by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Oct. 22, which they view as the start of a new phase.
Tar, the editor-in-chief of LGBTQ+ news platform KaosGL.org, and Akdeniz, a program host for İlk TV, were arrested on Feb. 22 following a series of raids on the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), a left-wing political initiative in Turkey. They were initially detained in the early hours of Feb. 18. Journalist Elif Akgül was also arrested in the same operation.
The detentions were part of a broader crackdown on political activists, journalists and civil society actors that Turkish authorities say is tied to “anti-terror” operations, though rights groups frequently criticize the government for using such charges to silence dissent.
Silivri Prison, officially known as Marmara No. 1 Penal Institution, is located on the outskirts of Istanbul and is known for holding political prisoners, journalists and human rights activists.
