Turkey’s LGBT Crackdown Draws International Condemnation
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Turkey's LGBT Crackdown Draws International Condemnation
- Turkish authorities have detained at least 112 people, including 44 rights defenders, in a recent crackdown on LGBT organizations and individuals.
- The crackdown, operating under the name "My Family Is Safe," has led to protests and condemnation from international human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as envoys from six European countries.
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Turkish authorities have initiated a significant crackdown on LGBT organizations and individuals across the country, prompting widespread international condemnation and protests. The operation, termed “My Family Is Safe” by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, began with coordinated police raids between September 12-14, 2026, targeting seven LGBT rights groups and two HIV support organizations, alongside bars and nightclubs in at least five major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydın, and Mersin.
During these raids, at least 112 people were arrested, with 82 reportedly still detained under court order as of September 18, 2026. Among those detained are LGBT activists, founders, and executives of the targeted groups, as well as at least one journalist. Authorities have also moved to block dozens of social media platforms and websites belonging to LGBT and other rights groups, and have begun proceedings to potentially close two LGBT rights associations in Mersin. Justice Minister Gürlek stated the operation aims to “protect children, the institution of the family, and public order,” linking it to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s broader initiative to promote traditional family values.
In response, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have strongly condemned the actions, describing them as an attempt to criminalize and marginalize LGBT people. Protests have erupted both within Turkey, including a demonstration outside the Istanbul Çağlayan courthouse where over 100 people were arrested on September 15, and internationally, with demonstrations outside Turkish missions in the United States and Europe on September 18, 2026. Human rights envoys from France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Iceland have urged Turkey to uphold civil liberties and respect international human rights law.