Dozens arrested in major anti-LGBTQ raids in Turkey

Turkish police conducted major raids on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ activists on Sunday, arresting at least 60 individuals, according to authorities. The operations, dubbed "My Family is Safe," were carried out in collaboration with police and gendarmerie forces across 15 provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that the raids aimed to boost traditional family values and protect children, as part of the "Decade of the Family" proclaimed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The LGBTQ community in Turkey has frequently faced government targeting, with Erdogan labeling it as a "deviant movement" responsible for the declining birth rate. This particular raid came a day after more than a dozen Turkish LGBTQ organizations had their X accounts blocked at the request of authorities. Prosecutors in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir confirmed the detentions of 63 people, while LGBTQ and women's rights activists claim that nearly 50 defenders of LGBTQ rights were taken into custody or are facing legal proceedings across the country.

One LGBTQ rights organization, Kaos GL, reported that judicial authorities alleged the group made posts containing obscenity on its website and social media channels, accessible to children. Despite same-sex relations not being a criminal offense in Turkey, homophobia remains widespread. The European Union Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey condemned the arrests as a shocking escalation in repression, claiming the imposition of a moral agenda violates fundamental rights and international commitments, taking Turkey down a dark path.