Turkish authorities have conducted a series of raids and arrests targeting LGBTQ+ community members and journalists, with accusations of obscenity cited as justification. The operation, named “My Family is Safe,” was described by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek as an effort to “protect our children, the institution of the family and the social order.”
Starting early on Sunday, Turkish police raided offices of LGBTQ+ rights organisations and HIV-advocacy groups in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Aydın, and Mersin. Prosecutors in Istanbul stated that digital equipment, drugs, and a firearm were seized, and dozens of people were arrested.
Human Rights Watch's Emma Sinclair-Webb called it the “widest crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in recent years.” Rights groups tracking the arrests believe 62 people have been held on remand, with over 100 detained in total.
The raids sparked protests, leading to further arrests. Turkish authorities reportedly teargassed hundreds of protesters in İzmir and detained at least 150 demonstrators in Istanbul on Tuesday, along with dozens more in Ankara.
While homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, prosecutors in Ankara have accused LGBTQ+ rights groups of violating laws prohibiting “obscenity” and those governing NGOs. A journalist, Tuğba Tekerek, was arrested at her home in Istanbul and taken to Ankara for questioning after publishing a piece with Kaos GL, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group that also operates a news site.