Turkey arrests 162 people in nationwide raids targeting LGBTQ community

Police in Turkey have detained 47 individuals during a series of raids targeting gay bars and the residences of LGBTQ+ activists, officials have confirmed. The operations occurred across 12 provinces during the weekend as part of the "My Family is Safe" campaign, a government initiative aimed at preserving family values. One of the targeted entities was the LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL.

Same-sex marriage remains unrecognized in Turkey, leading to mounting pressure on gay couples. Human rights organizations in the country allege that the government is employing the campaign as a means to target the LGBTQ+ community. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office reported that 26 people were detained, with the seizure of drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm.

The Ankara chief prosecutor's office disclosed that an additional 21 people were detained as part of an investigation into Kaos GL. Kaos GL responded by stating that 50 activists were taken into custody, with over a dozen apprehended following police raids on their homes. The group alleged that authorities had blocked numerous websites and social media accounts affiliated with LGBTQ+ organizations.

Authorities have accused Kaos GL of disseminating "obscenity" in online posts accessible to children and have demanded the suspension of Kaos GL's X account and around 15 other LGBTQ+ organizations' accounts. Same-sex relations are not illegal in Turkey, yet homophobia is prevalent, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan referring to LGBTQ individuals as "perverts" who contribute to Turkey's declining birth rate.

As part of the "My Family is Safe" initiative, Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurleksay has initiated legal proceedings against more than 160 people and numerous organizations and companies nationwide. However, the exact number of individuals apprehended remains undisclosed. The Turkish Human Rights Association claims that the Turkish government has been utilizing the campaign to target the LGBTQ+ community over the past years, describing the operation as state-led discrimination, a politics of fear, and the dismantling of civil society.