Since the past weekend, Turkish authorities have initiated a series of police raids and arrests specifically targeting the LGBTI+ community. These operations are part of a broader campaign known as “Ailem Güvende,” which translates to “My Family is Safe.” The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its Turkish member organization, İnsan Hakları Derneği (IHD), have condemned these actions as discriminatory and contrary to international law.
Scale of Detentions and Charges
The crackdown has resulted in the detention of at least 116 people. Among those arrested, 44 are identified as LGBTI+ rights defenders. Of the total detainees, at least 82 have been remanded in pre-trial detention. The majority of those held are trans women. They face a combination of charges including prostitution, drug offenses, obscenity violations, and breaches of the Law on Associations.
Further unrest followed the initial raids. In Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir, protests were held in support of the detained individuals. Authorities responded by detaining at least 125 additional people during these solidarity demonstrations. Social media activity related to the protests was also suppressed, with restrictions placed on the accounts of journalists and activists supporting the LGBTI+ community.
Organizational Condemnation and Demands
FIDH and IHD denounce the arrests in the strongest terms. They demand the immediate dropping of all prosecutions based on what they describe as discriminatory accusations. The organizations urge international actors to respond strongly to Turkey’s anti-LGBTI+ shift, citing infringements on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly under United Nations and Council of Europe standards.
Alexis Deswaef, President of FIDH, stated that the European Union must acknowledge Turkey’s incompatibility with Union values due to these violations. He called for an indefinite hold on Turkey’s accession process and the immediate cessation of pre-accession funding. Deswaef emphasized that there is no prospect of the Turkish authorities backing down or offering reparations without external pressure.
Political Context and Historical Trends
This crackdown reflects a sustained erosion of civil freedoms in Turkey over recent years. LGBTI+ individuals and organizations have become primary targets. Laws regarding “obscenity” and “child protection” have been weaponized to criminalize the existence of the community. Civil society faces rampant surveillance, judicial harassment, and political bans.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has frequently targeted the LGBTI+ community. He recently designated the next ten years as the “Decade of Family and Population.” FIDH and IHD argue that concepts of “family values” should not justify authoritarian and conservative power structures. The organizations call for the immediate release of all detainees and an end to the criminalization of LGBTI+ civil society. They urge the EU, Council of Europe, and UN mechanisms to firmly condemn the raids.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
