Turkish police detained dozens during protests and coordinated raids this week as part of a government campaign dubbed "My Family Is Safe" targeting LGBTQ+ activists, venues and organisations. Authorities say the operation covered 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the Council of Europe, have raised serious concerns about raids, arrests and online restrictions. The actions have prompted protests in Istanbul and wider alarm over threats to civil liberties.
Turkey Detains Dozens in Nationwide Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Activists
[Getty Images]
Turkish police detained dozens of people this week amid a government-led campaign targeting LGBTQ+ activists, venues and allied organisations. The operation, promoted by officials under the slogan "My Family Is Safe", has prompted protests and international concern.
Protests and Raids
On Tuesday, demonstrators gathered outside Istanbul's main courthouse calling for the release of activists who were arrested over the weekend during coordinated raids on gay bars and at the homes of activists. Authorities arrested a number of protesters after some unfurled a banner reading "Being LGBTQ Is Not A Crime". Dozens of other demonstrators were reported detained in Ankara on 15 September amid related enforcement actions.
Scope of the Operation
Turkish officials say the operation targeted 162 individuals, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces, coordinated by several Chief Public Prosecutors' Offices. Over the past week, authorities have also raided association offices, blocked websites and restricted access to social media accounts belonging to LGBT, media and rights organisations.
Turkish police detained dozens of LGBT rights protesters in Ankara on 15 September [Getty Images]
Reactions and Context
Human rights groups and activists describe the measures as a broader campaign of intimidation against the LGBTQ+ community and its defenders. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, warned of a worrying pattern of arrests, raids and online restrictions directed at LGBTI civil society.
"I am concerned by reports of a series of arrests, raids and the blocking of websites and social media accounts targeting LGBTI civil society and human rights defenders across Turkey," said Michael O'Flaherty.
Same-sex relations are not criminalised in Turkey, but social hostility and discrimination remain common. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly condemned LGBTQ+ identities, using rhetoric that rights groups say fuels stigma and justification for enforcement actions.
What This Means
The raids and arrests have intensified scrutiny from international organisations including Human Rights Watch and the Council of Europe, which are calling for transparency, accountability and protections for civil society and freedom of expression. The measures have heightened fear among activists and raised questions about the balance between claimed "family protection" policies and fundamental rights.
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