Turkish police detained 47 people over the weekend in raids targeting gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists across 12 provinces. The operations, part of a government campaign called "My Family is Safe," have drawn accusations from human rights groups that the authorities are using the initiative to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.
Officials stated that the raids were designed to protect family values. According to the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office, police detained 26 individuals and seized drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm. In a separate action, the Ankara chief prosecutor's office reported detaining 21 more people as part of an investigation into the LGBTQ+ organization Kaos GL.
Kaos GL reported that over 50 activists were detained, with more than 10 taken from their homes. The organization also stated that authorities blocked several websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ groups, accusing Kaos GL of making "obscenity" in online posts accessible to children and demanding the shutdown of its X account and those of approximately 15 other LGBTQ+ organizations.
While same-sex relations are not illegal in Turkey, homophobia is prevalent. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously referred to LGBTQ+ individuals as "perverts" and linked them to a declining birth rate. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that legal proceedings have been initiated against over 160 individuals, as well as various organizations and companies nationwide, in connection with the "Decade of the Family" campaign. Gurlek did not specify the total number of detentions.
The Turkish Human Rights Association criticized the "My Family is Safe" campaign, labeling it as "state-led discrimination, politics of fear and the dismantling of civil society" rather than a genuine effort to protect families. Officials claimed the raids were part of the "Decade of the Family" initiative.