The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has issued an urgent intervention request regarding a series of operations in Turkey. The Observatory states it was informed of a wave of raids and arbitrary detentions targeting LGBTQI+ human rights defenders and their organizations. The targeted entities include Kaos GL, Muamma LGBTQI+ Association, Mersin 7 Renk LGBTQI+ Solidarity Association, SPoD, HEVİ LGBTQI+ Association, Lambdaistanbul, LİSTAG, as well as Pozitif Yaşam and Pozitif-iz, two organizations working with people living with HIV.
Coordinated Operations Across Five Provinces
The operation, launched at midnight on 12 September 2026, extended across five provinces: Izmir, Aydın, Ankara, Mersin, and Istanbul. Minister of Justice described the mass operation as “My Family is Safe.” In addition to LGBTQI+ rights defenders, tens of individuals, predominantly trans women, were detained. Simultaneous raids began at 1 a.m. on 13 September 2026, targeting the homes of 14 elected full and reserve board members of Kaos GL in Ankara. Seven of these individuals have since been formally arrested, and the association’s premises were searched. A journalist who previously wrote about LGBTI+ rights in Georgia for Kaos GL was also arrested.
In Istanbul, the first wave of operations during the night of 12 to 13 September 2026 targeted nightclubs and massage parlors in the Beyoğlu and Şişli districts, including Taksim, Cihangir, and İstiklal Avenue. This was followed by morning raids on association premises. Police entered the offices of SPoD and HEVİ LGBTQI+ Association, while locksmiths assisted in entering Pozitif Yaşam and Pozitif-iz. Police reportedly forced entry into Lambdaistanbul and LİSTAG. Founding members from all listed associations were taken into custody, and electronic equipment such as phones, computers, tablets, and USB drives were seized across multiple cities.
Arrests and Judicial Proceedings
On 16 September 2026, 20 individuals brought before the court were arrested, including 10 LGBTQI+ rights defenders, while others were released under judicial control. The arrest reasoning cited that the associations’ institutional structures were used to carry out acts directed at children and weaken the Turkish family structure. Charges included violating Article 32/p of the Law on Associations and obscenity under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of one to three years and a judicial fine.
In Mersin on 13 September 2026, 34 people were detained; 26 were arrested, including six office-holders from Muamma and Mersin 7 Renk associations. In İzmir, 20 people were detained, with 18 subsequently arrested on allegations of obscenity and prostitution. In Kuşadası, Aydın province, six people were detained and five arrested. As of 11 a.m. local time on 17 September 2026, at least 116 people had been detained, including 44 LGBTQI+ human rights defenders. Of the total, 82 people were placed in pre-trial detention, including 25 LGBTQI+ rights defenders. Previously, the Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ordered the blocking of websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBTQI+ associations on 12 September 2026.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
