Turkey detains 26 people after raids targeting LGBTQ+ groups

Turkish authorities have detained people and searched the offices of LGBTQ+ associations in a series of raids. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said operations were carried out across 12 provinces against 38 suspects over the weekend. According to Al-Monitor, 26 people were detained.

The raids followed allegations of prostitution and obscenity, prosecutors said. The crackdown is part of a campaign that the government says is aimed at protecting family values. Authorities seized drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and a firearm.

The Ankara-based LGBTQ+ rights group Kaos GL gave a higher figure for those detained, saying at least 50 activists had been detained, including more than 10 who were taken in police raids on their homes, according to the Jerusalem Post. Kaos GL also said authorities blocked access to dozens of websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTI+ organizations, activists and rights advocates.

DW English reported that Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said investigations involved judicial proceedings against 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, DW English (Top Stories), Jerusalem Post — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.