New Delhi: Across Turkey, police have raided gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists in a nationwide crackdown. At least 162 people were detained during the weekend raid targeting the country’s queer community.
The operation called “My Family Is Safe” is part of a wider government crackdown targeting LGBTQ+ activists, organisations and venues.
While same-sex relationships are legal in Turkey, the country still does not recognise same-sex marriages. The LGBTQ+ community continues to face stigma, legal gaps and increasing pressure from conservative groups. Activists say the Turkish government is actively targeting the LGBTQ+ community through raids and arrests.
On 15 September, Turkish Police also stopped a group from making a statement outside a courthouse in Istanbul. In Ankara, police broke up a gathering of people supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
The protests took place after the weekend crackdown. However, the government maintains that the operation was meant to protect children and family values.
“As per the duty to protect families and children given to the state by the Constitution, no criminal organisation, abuse network or illegal activity which targets children, youths or families will be tolerated,” Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek told DW News.
Kaos GL, an LGBTQ+ rights group based in Ankara, said that the authorities also blocked access to many websites and social media accounts of queer groups and activists.
Turkish authorities have also restricted access to the websites and social media accounts of several LGBTQ+ organisations, individuals, and independent media outlets, including the X account operated by Amnesty International’s Turkey branch.
The exact number of detainees is not confirmed. However, reports claim that the raids came in the context of the “Decade of the Family” campaign.
The Turkish Human Rights Association said that the Turkish government has used the campaign in recent years to target the LGBTQ+ community.
Authorities said proceedings are underway against 162 people in 15 provinces, nine associations, and 13 businesses.
“The real name of this operation is not ‘My Family is Safe’; it is state-led discrimination, politics of fear and the dismantling of civil society,” the Turkish Human Rights Association said on X.
“We stand with LGBTİ+ individuals, people living with HIV, and human rights defenders,” the post read.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)