Turkey anti-LGBTQ crackdown 2026
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Erdogan's Turkey cracks down on LGBT community
A European Commission spokesperson said the Commission is concerned about recent arrests and legal proceedings initiated against LGBTIQ+ activists, human rights associations, and businesses, as well as blockages of websites and social media accounts.
The Turkish criminal justice system has launched investigations of more than 160 people, according to Amnesty International.
Amnesty International reported that 180 social media accounts belonging to LGBT organizations, activists, journalists and media outlets have been blocked or restricted.
Turkish authorities launch anti-LGBTQ raids, detaining dozens
Judicial authorities in Ankara accused Kaos GL of publishing “posts containing obscenity” online, according to the rights group.
Police conducted raids on gay bars, offices, and homes in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Mersin.
Gurlek said the operations aligned with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 10-year “Decade of Family and Population” executive order.
Turkish police raid gay bars and LGBTQ+ activist homes
Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Turkey.
Kaos GL, an LGBTQ+ association, was one of the targets of the operation.
Authorities blocked several websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organisations according to Kaos GL.