Festnahmen: Razzien gegen LGBTQ-Organisationen in der Türkei

In Istanbul, Turkey, law enforcement conducted raids against LGBTQ organizations over the weekend, resulting in numerous arrests and searches of office spaces. According to the Istanbul prosecutor's office, 26 individuals were detained, and the premises of six organizations were raided. The accused face charges of prostitution and obscenity.

The Istanbul-based LGBTQ group Kaos GL reported that at least 50 activists were arrested, and the websites and social media accounts of dozens of organizations and activists were blocked. Authorities justified the action, citing concerns that children and adolescents are excessively influenced in matters of sexual orientation and gender identity.

This move is part of the government's "My Family is Safe" initiative. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently campaigning for a "Decade of Family and Population" to combat declining birth rates and an aging society. Human rights groups accuse the Ankara government of increasingly targeting the LGBTQ community. The government's actions are described as "state-led discrimination, a policy of fear and the dismantling of civil society" by the Turkish Human Rights Association on the X platform.

According to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, investigations in 15 provinces are targeting a total of 162 suspects, nine organizations, and 13 companies.