Turkish authorities launch crackdown on LGBTQ+ and HIV support groups

Turkish authorities have launched a crackdown on LGBTQ+ groups and HIV support organizations, detaining dozens of members and raiding offices and popular hangouts in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin, and Mersin. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek justified the simultaneous police raids, which began at 1 a.m., by stating they were aimed at "protecting children, the institution of the family, and public order" in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 10-year executive order.

Gurlek claimed that the investigation targeted 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses, asserting that no criminal organization or activity targeting children, youths, or families would be tolerated.

The raids disrupted numerous prominent LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness groups, and their websites were subsequently blocked. Gurlek's comments also noted that these associations allegedly received substantial funding from international sources and agencies. The Human Rights Association strongly condemned the actions, describing them as a "political operation" instead of a judicial one, meant to force society into a monolithic family model and suppress LGBTI+ and independent civil society.

They criticized the inclusion of charges like "forming a criminal organization," "drugs," "prostitution," and "obscenity," arguing that these unrelated allegations were intended to incriminate the entire community.

The Justice and Development Party has long been vocal in its opposition to LGBTQ+ groups, particularly ahead of elections. In 2015, they banned the Istanbul Pride event, which typically drew tens of thousands of attendees. Authorities have continued to violently disperse Pride gatherings since then. In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, the party has intensified its anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

While the Ottoman Empire decriminalized homosexuality in 1858, significant social discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals still persists in modern-day Turkey.