Dozens arrested as Turkish police raid LGBTQ bars, activists' homes
Turkish police on Sunday made dozens of arrests in a slew of raids on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ activists. Authorities said the raids came in the context of the "Decade of the Family" proclaimed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, aimed at "protecting our children, the institution of the family and social order".
A Turkish court has jailed 16 individuals in Izmir following raids on LGBTQ+ groups, as part of a government crackdown that includes widespread arrests across the country. The "My Family is Safe" operation, coordinated by prosecutors in several provinces, resulted in the detention of 18 suspects, with 16 ordered to be held in jail and the remaining two under judicial supervision.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek defended the operation, stating that it aims to protect children and uphold family values, while rights groups accuse the government of targeting the LGBTQ+ community through repression and legal measures. The arrests come amid President Erdogan's "Decade of Family and Population" initiative, which seeks to address declining birth rates and an aging population.
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