Turkey orders countrywide review of LGBTQ material as detentions rise to 21

Turkey’s Justice Ministry issued instructions to prosecutors across all 81 provinces to review complaints alleging that material exposing children to obscenity or encouraging “genderlessness” is being circulated, and to gather digital evidence and limit online access where necessary. The order comes after the “My Family Is Safe” operation in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Aydın and Mersin, which Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said has resulted in legal proceedings against 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses in 15 provinces.

Courts in İzmir and Kuşadası have jailed a total of 21 suspects pending trial, while other investigations involve accusations of obscenity, prostitution, drug offenses and a criminal organisation. Authorities have also blocked websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ groups, Amnesty International Turkey, the Evrensel newspaper, Academics for Peace and the Media and Law Studies Association. About 200 protesters in İzmir faced tear-gas and two arrests, including a lawyer, as police barred rainbow flags. Internationally, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen urged Congress to pass the Global Respect Act to sanction those responsible for the detentions, and UN and Council of Europe officials called for the release of those detained for human-rights work.