Raids on LGBTQ+ Community in Turkey Prompt Widespread Criticism

Several raids and arrests of LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey have sparked criticism from various Turkish organizations and officials in Brussels. Raids targeting LGBTQ+ activists and organizations occurred over the weekend, resulting in multiple arrests by Turkish authorities and the blocking of numerous social media accounts. The Turkish government's actions have faced backlash domestically and internationally. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the operation as part of the "Decade of Family and Population" initiative, a national strategy introduced in May 2025 aimed at addressing a decline in the country's birthrate and reinforcing traditional family values. On Tuesday, demonstrations took place in Istanbul, where Turkish LGBTQ+ associations issued a joint declaration asserting that establishing an association and advocating for rights is not a crime. The declaration emphasized that freedoms of assembly, opinion, privacy, and presumption of innocence apply to LGBTQ+ individuals as well. Support for the LGBTQ+ community also came from the women's movement, with 120 women's rights organizations signing a joint declaration criticizing authoritarianism in Turkey. The organizations stated, "As women, we stand against the operations carried out in the name of 'keeping the family safe.' We know that the repression of our bodies, our lives, our identities, and our right to organize is part of the same authoritarian politics. Being [LGBTQ+] is not a crime! Organizing as [LGBTQ+] people is not a crime!" Yildiz Taghizade of Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR), which co-signed the declaration, noted that the government is attempting to criminalize the LGBTQ+ community, a trend that has been ongoing for several years. Taghizade stated, "The aim is not only to target LGBTQ+ people but to practically ban the LGBTQ+ community from engaging in politics, getting organized, claiming rights, and showing presence in the public sphere." The operation's slogan, "My family is safe," was criticized as a justification for the government's actions, which Taghizade argued distracts from pressing issues such as poverty, housing crises, unemployment, and violence against women. Other organizations, including the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), condemned the government's actions as human rights violations and called for an end to discriminatory policies. TTB stated that treating gender identity and sexual orientation as crimes, forcibly removing individuals from their homes, and blocking digital channels in the name of family protection is unacceptable. Erkan Bas, chairman of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), called for the immediate release of those arrested, asserting that the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals is not a crime. Bas criticized the government's approach to dissent, stating that those opposing the government face judicial and censorship actions. The raids occurred on Sunday in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, with over 100 social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ groups and activists blocked. The legal basis for these actions stemmed from a ruling by an Istanbul court on September 13, with the Public Prosecutor's Office in Bakirkoy citing investigations into accounts spreading "obscene content and LGBTQ+ propaganda." Critics have labeled these actions as digital censorship. While homosexual relationships are not criminalized in Turkey, the government has previously referred to the LGBTQ+ community in derogatory terms. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek accused LGBTQ+ organizations of promoting immorality and stated that no illegal activities targeting children or families would be tolerated. Christian Wigand, a spokesperson for the European Commission, emphasized that Turkey, as an EU accession candidate, should uphold human rights and dignity for all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, noting that stigmatization and discrimination contradict EU values. Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director at Human Rights Watch, interpreted the arrests as evidence of the government's intent to criminalize LGBTQ+ individuals without new legislation. This article was originally published in German.