Human Rights Watch has stated that the Turkish government’s intensified crackdown on associations and activists defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals poses a severe threat to the rule of law and basic freedoms in the country. Between September 12 and 14, 2026, coordinated police raids targeted seven LGBTI rights organizations, two groups supporting people living with HIV, as well as bars and nightclubs across Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin, and Mersin.
Authorities arrested at least 112 people, with 82 remaining in custody under judicial orders. Among those detained are at least 24 LGBTI activists, founders or executive directors of the targeted associations, and one journalist. Benjamin Ward, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia division at Human Rights Watch, described the operation as an overt attempt to criminalize, marginalize, and silence the LGBTI community. He called for the immediate release of all detainees and an end to the campaign against these civil society groups.
Turkish Justice Minister Akin Kirisci announced that 162 individuals are under investigation in an operation dubbed “My Family is Safe,” conducted under a presidential decree issued in May regarding a “Family Compact.” While officials have frequently cited the protection of family values to justify discrimination against LGBTI people, Human Rights Watch emphasized that this crackdown aims to entrench prejudice rather than protect families. The investigations involve charges such as “insulting public decency,” sexual acts, drug-related crimes, and violations of association laws.
In Ankara, police detained 14 board members of Kaos GL, a leading LGBTI rights organization. They were questioned extensively regarding foreign funding, social media content, new membership, and internal operations. Seven members were ordered held for violating association laws and insulting public decency, while seven others were released under judicial supervision. Evidence presented included social media posts showing two men kissing. Journalist Tugba Tekirk was also detained based solely on a 2024 news report she wrote about LGBTI rights in Georgia.
In Mersin, courts detained six activists, including a lawyer, linked to local rights groups on similar charges. In Kusadasi, two local activists were held. In Istanbul, prosecutors investigated organizations including Lambda Istanbul, Hevi LGBTI Association, SPoD, and Pozitif-İz. On September 16, courts ordered the detention of nine executives and founders from these groups for alleged violations of association laws. Human Rights Watch expressed concern that authorities may move to dissolve these organizations following the arrest of their leadership.
Protests against the crackdown were met with force. Police used pepper spray to disperse a gathering in Izmir on September 14, arresting two people. On September 15, over 100 protesters were detained for more than 24 hours outside the Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul before being released. Additionally, courts issued blocking orders for dozens of social media platforms and websites belonging to rights defenders between September 12 and 16. Accounts for Amnesty International Turkey, Evrensel newspaper, and other human rights groups remain blocked. Justice Minister Kirisci also issued a circular instructing prosecutors to investigate activities promoting gender confusion among youth and to block online content deemed negative to public morality.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
