DEM Party warns LGBTQ crackdown threatens Turkey-PKK peace talks
The pro-Kurdish DEM Party condemned recent police raids on gay venues and LGBTQ activists, saying the repression endangers the peace process with the PKK.
In a statement on X, the DEM Party denounced a wave of police actions targeting LGBTQ spaces and activists, arguing that such repression contradicts the language of peace. Dozens were arrested in raids on gay bars and activists’ residences on accusations ranging from obscenity to facilitating prostitution and alleged overseas funding. The government has also blocked social-media accounts of human-rights defenders under the “My Family Is Safe” operation.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek affirmed the continuation of the crackdown, dismissing criticism from the European Union. DEM Party leaders highlighted their role as an intermediary in the negotiations that led the PKK to announce its disbandment, warning that curbing democratic space could erode confidence in the process.
Why it matters
The crackdown could weaken a fragile peace effort between Turkey and the PKK, affecting regional stability.
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