Turkey detains over 60 LGBTI+ activists and orders crackdown on “desexualization”
More than 60 people have been formally arrested after nationwide raids targeting LGBTI+ groups, while the Justice Ministry has ordered prosecutors to investigate alleged “desexualization” activities.
Following coordinated raids on Sep 13, Turkish police have formally arrested more than 60 people linked to LGBTI+ organisations, charging them with obscenity, prostitution and “desexualization” offences. Prosecutors justified the detentions by citing the “best interests of children,” family protection and public morality, and nine of those jailed belong to groups such as Hevi LGBTI+, Pozitif-iz, SPoD and Lambdaistanbul.
The Justice Ministry sent a nationwide circular ordering prosecutors to act against any activity it labels as “desexualization,” directing them to block online content and coordinate with family, education and cybersecurity agencies. Separate operations in Mersin, Kuşadası, İzmir and other provinces resulted in additional arrests, while 106 protesters detained on Sep 15 were released after demonstrating outside the İstanbul Courthouse. LGBTI+ advocacy groups, including Kaos GL, warn of possible ill-treatment of detainees and label the campaign a political intimidation effort.
Why it matters
The crackdown signals a widening legal assault on Turkey's LGBTI+ community and raises concerns over human-rights and freedom of expression.
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