Key facts
- Hundreds of journalists, campaigners, and members of the public have been detained in Turkey.
- The crackdown is part of the 'My Family is Safe' operation.
- Arrested individuals face charges including 'obscenity' and 'assisting prostitution'.
- Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced legal proceedings against over 160 people and organizations.
- The Ankara chief prosecutor's office initiated an investigation into Kaos GL, resulting in 21 arrests.
- Journalist Tugba Tekerek was detained for an article about the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia.
Turkish authorities have initiated a broad crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the detention of hundreds of individuals, including journalists, campaigners, and members of the public. The operation, branded 'My Family is Safe,' has seen charges such as 'obscenity' and 'assisting prostitution' levied against those arrested.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that legal proceedings have begun against over 160 people and organizations across 15 provinces. The Ankara chief prosecutor's office is investigating Kaos GL, a prominent LGBTQ+ organization, which has resulted in 21 arrests. Journalist Tugba Tekerek was among those detained for an article published on Kaos GL's news portal.
Yildiz Tar, editor-in-chief of Kaos GL, described the crackdown as a new level of oppression, stating that the government is attempting to portray LGBTQ+ existence and visibility as obscene and a threat to family values. Tar noted that half of those arrested were activists and journalists, while the other half were ordinary individuals detained during raids on gay bars, cafes, or from their homes.
Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has increasingly targeted the LGBTQ+ community. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously declared 2026 onward as the 'Decade of the Family.'
In addition to arrests, social media accounts of organizations like Amnesty International Turkey, Evrensel newspaper, and Academics for Peace have been blocked at the request of Turkish authorities. Human rights groups and international bodies, including the European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor, have condemned the crackdown as a severe escalation of repression and state-led discrimination.