Dozens arrested as Turkish police raid LGBTQ bars, activists' homes

In a recent effort by the Turkish government, 16 individuals have been jailed in Izmir following raids on LGBTQ+ groups, according to a prosecutor's office. The operation, dubbed "My Family is Safe," led to the arrest of 18 suspects, out of which 16 were ordered to be detained and the remaining two placed under judicial monitoring.

The government claims that the investigations, carried out jointly by prosecutors in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin, and Mersin, involved 162 suspects, 9 associations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. The Justice Minister, Akin Gurlek, stated that the operation aims to safeguard children and uphold family values. Rights activists, however, allege that the government is increasingly targeting the LGBTQ+ community through a mix of rhetoric, policy restrictions, and legal measures.

The Turkish Human Rights Association characterized the operation as "state-led discrimination, politics of fear, and the dismantling of civil society." European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur, Nacho Sanchez Amor, described the arrests as a "shocking escalation" of repression. Prosecutors have claimed that the investigations pertain to offenses such as prostitution and obscenity, and that the operation focuses on preventing minors from being improperly influenced on matters concerning sexual orientation and gender identity.

The operation is taking place as President Tayyip Erdogan champions a "Decade of Family and Population" initiative, which seeks to address declining birth rates and an aging population.