Istanbul LGBTI’s Kıvılcım Arat is taken into custody

Istanbul LGBTI’s trans activist Kıvılcım Arat was taken into custody at Istanbul Atatürk Airport International Terminal. Arat, whose detainment reason is unknown, was on her way to a women’s rights conference.

Source: Yıldız Tar, “İstanbul LGBTİ’den Kıvılcım Arat gözaltına alındı” (“Istanbul LGBTI’s Kıvılcım Arat is taken into custody”), 17 March 2017, Kaos GL, http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=23328

kivilcimarat.jpg

Istanbul LGBTI Association Board Member and trans activist Kıvılcım Arat was taken into custody at Istanbul Atatürk Airport International Terminal.

While Arat’s detainment reason is unknown, Zelal Demir of Istanbul LGBTI told KaosGL.org that the lawyers are on their way to meet Arat. Demir added that they are neither informed on the reason for detainment nor the location of the station in which Arat is held, and continued with the following statement:

“Fight for rights cannot be restrained by detentions!”

“We are not informed on the detainment reason of our friend, our comrade, our board member Kıvılcım Arat, although, we are going through times that a large number of human rights defenders are facing detainment. We demand Kıvılcım to be released. Fight for rights cannot be restrained by detentions. We stand by our friend.”

Today, Arat was on her way to a women’s rights conference in Germany. It is believed that she is taken into custody whilst she was in line for passport control.

We will continue to report on the details…

Editor’s note: Kıvılcım Arat was released from detention on March 18.

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