Turkey Arrests 26 LGBTQ+ Activists Citing Family Safety

Turkish authorities have launched a massive crackdown on LGBTQ+ organizations and activists, according to Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.

Minister Gürlek announced that joint operations by prosecutors and police, under the name "My Family is Safe," were carried out across 15 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, resulting in investigations into 162 suspects, nine organizations, and 13 businesses.

Gürlek explained that the investigation focused on pimping and providing venues for prostitution, the production and distribution of pornography, and exposing children to such content, in accordance with the "constitutional obligation entrusted to the state to protect families and children."

During the operation, narcotics and numerous digital materials were seized, and access to several social media accounts and websites was blocked.

"An investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board into organizations promoting LGBTQ issues and immoral acts revealed that large sums of funds were funneled from foreign public institutions and organizations," Gürlek added, noting that investigations into the flow of funds are also underway.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has arrested 26 people so far and efforts to make additional arrests are ongoing, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office added that raids on various businesses and LGBTQ+ organizations resulted in the seizure of drugs and stimulants such as cocaine and marijuana, syringes and needles, smuggled alcohol, unlicensed pistols, and camera recording equipment.

Reuters reported that the crackdown comes against the backdrop of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently designating the years 2026 to 2035 as the "Decade of Family and Population," alongside policies aimed at boosting the birth rate.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.