Security

47 Arrested in Turkey in Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Activist Homes and Establishments

TIKVAH Ethiopia · last week · Read the Full Story on TIKVAH Ethiopia
47 Arrested in Turkey in Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Activist Homes and Establishments
AI SUMMARY

Turkish police have arrested 47 people across 12 provinces in a series of operations targeting LGBTQ+ activists and establishments under a campaign to protect family values.

  • Turkish police arrested 47 people over the weekend in operations spanning 12 provinces.
  • The raids targeted bars frequented by LGBTQ+ individuals and the homes of activists.
  • The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported 26 detentions and the seizure of drugs, digital devices, illegal alcohol, and firearms.
  • The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported 21 arrests linked to the LGBTQ+ rights group Kaos GL.
  • Kaos GL stated that 50 activists were detained, including over 10 taken from their homes, and reported the blocking of several related websites and social media pages.
  • Authorities requested the closure of about 15 X accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ organizations, including Kaos GL, and filed obscenity charges over online content.
  • The Turkish government is conducting the campaign under the banner "My Family is Safe" to protect family values.
  • Deputy Minister of Justice Akin Gürlek stated that legal proceedings have been initiated against more than 160 individuals, organizations, and companies linked to the LGBTQ+ community.
  • President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously referred to LGBTQ+ individuals as deviants and linked them to declining birth rates.