LGBTI+ rights groups, businesses and individuals in Turkey have been targeted in a sweeping series of government raids, arrests and online censorship measures carried out under the guise of protecting the “safety” of families.
The crackdown began with the government blocking access to the websites of LGBTI+ organisations, before officials raided the offices and homes of LGBTI+ activists and other individuals across the country.
Authorities coordinated the operation through the chief prosecutors’ offices in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Aydın and Mersin under the name “My Family is Safe”.
LGBTI+ Websites and Social Media Accounts Blocked
The Kaos GL Association reported that an order issued by an Istanbul court on 12 September blocked access to the websites of numerous LGBTI+ organisations, as well as a large number of X and Instagram accounts.
This was followed by a series of operations beginning in the early hours of 13 September across 15 provinces, targeting LGBTI+ groups and individuals.
Kaos GL said it believed that “nearly 50 LGBTI+ rights defenders, association executives and founders, members, former association executives and independent activists were detained or were subject to statement-taking or detention procedures.”
Those targeted included 13 members of Kaos GL’s board of directors, as well as members of its audit board, who were detained during police raids on their homes. Authorities also detained individuals who were outside the city so that they could be taken to Ankara.
Police reportedly seized mobile phones, computers, tablets, USB drives and other electronic devices during the raids, while authorities also searched the Kaos GL Association’s office.
Authorities Allege ‘Obscene’ LGBTI+ Content
Kaos GL said documents showed that the Cybercrime Bureau of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the organisation’s website and social media accounts contain “posts containing obscenity.”
Authorities also reportedly targeted LGBTI+ nightclubs and massage parlours as part of the operation.
In a statement on Facebook, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the crackdown aimed to “protect our children, the family institution, and the social order.”
He confirmed that “judicial proceedings are being carried out against 162 suspects, 9 associations, and 13 businesses…”
Gurlek said the state was investigating “individuals who facilitate or provide venues for drug trafficking, businesses that are considered to have provided the environment for these activities, suspects who produce and distribute obscene content, and children who are exposed to these contents.”
Minister Links LGBTI+ Groups to Foreign Funding
Gurlek not only portrayed the promotion of LGBTI+ rights as immoral and a threat to families, but also suggested that it formed part of a foreign campaign to influence the country.
He stated that “high amounts of funds were transferred to LGBT and immoral associations through public institutions and foreign organizations in foreign countries,” and said, “The source of these financial transactions and the connection between these transactions and the activities under investigation are being investigated.”
Human rights organisations in Turkey condemned the authorities’ attempt to criminalise legitimate and lawful work in the field of LGBTI+ rights by associating activists and organisations with allegations of pimping, obscenity, drug trafficking and similar crimes.
They also accused the authorities of presenting information out of context in an attempt to discredit LGBTI+ organisations and restrict the freedom of association guaranteed by international conventions binding on Turkey, as well as the country’s Constitution and laws.
“Defending human rights and LGBT+ rights is not a crime,” the groups said in a joint statement.
They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of detained activists and called for an end to all pressure, targeting and interference aimed at hindering the existence, freedom of association and advocacy activities of LGBTI+ people.
Erdoğan Government Has Repeatedly Targeted LGBTI+ People
Turkey has experienced a deteriorating human rights environment under right-wing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has effectively led the country since 2003, first as Prime Minister and later as President.
Erdoğan has repeatedly attacked the LGBTI+ community, claiming that the “traditional family” is under threat from what he has described as the “LGBT plague” and “LGBT perversion”.
Turkey currently ranks 47th out of 49 countries on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, which measures LGBTI+ rights protections across Europe.
In July, local authorities made international headlines when they barred a gay cruise ship from docking at the ports of Kuşadası and Istanbul. citing the country’s “moral values”. This followed the arrest of dozens of activists after they attempted to hold Pride marches in Istanbul and Izmir.
