Turkish authorities detain dozens in raids targeting LGBTQ+ groups

Turkish authorities have detained 26 people and searched the offices of six LGBTQ+ associations following a series of raids conducted across 12 provinces. The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office stated that the operation targeted 38 suspects over the weekend, citing allegations of prostitution and obscenity. During the raids, officials reported the seizure of digital equipment, drugs, a firearm, and smuggled alcohol.

The Ankara-based LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL provided a different account of the scope of the operation, stating that at least 50 activists were detained. This figure includes more than 10 individuals who were reportedly taken into custody during police raids on their private homes. Additionally, the association reported that authorities have blocked access to dozens of websites and social media accounts associated with rights advocates, activists, and LGBTQ+ organizations.

The government has framed this crackdown as part of a broader campaign titled "My Family is Safe," which officials state is intended to protect family values. This initiative aligns with a wider government policy promoted by President Tayyip Erdogan known as the "Decade of Family and Population," which aims to address concerns regarding an aging demographic and declining birth rates in the country.

Rights groups have characterized these actions as part of a trend of increasing government hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community, citing a hardening of official rhetoric and the implementation of new restrictions in recent years. Critics of the operation have described the government's approach as state-led discrimination and a move to dismantle civil society through the politics of fear.