Turkey: 162 Arrested in LGBTQ+ Raids

Turkish authorities conducted raids targeting six LGBTQ+ associations, detaining 26 individuals across 12 provinces, according to prosecutors. The operations, part of a campaign to protect family values, resulted in the seizure of drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office reported that at least 50 activists, including over a dozen taken from their homes, were detained.

Ankara-based LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL claimed that authorities blocked access to numerous websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTI+ organizations and advocates. Dubbed "My Family is Safe," the government's crackdown coincides with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's push for a "Decade of Family and Population," aimed at addressing declining birth rates and an aging population.

Human rights groups have accused Turkey of increasingly targeting the LGBTQ+ community through a hardening of rhetoric and restrictions. The prosecutor's office cited evidence suggesting that children and underage youths were being improperly influenced on matters of sexual orientation and gender identity. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that investigations involved judicial proceedings against 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces.