Turkey’s LGBTQ crackdown seen as kickoff to Erdoğan’s 2028 election drive

In Ankara, Kaos GL activist Yıldız Tar, already jailed twice for his work, described the nationwide crackdown on LGBTQ spaces as the opening act of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s bid for a 2028 reelection. The operation, launched last weekend, involved blocking dozens of social-media accounts and conducting overnight raids on bars, nightclubs, NGOs and private homes, justified by officials as protecting children and family values.

Tar noted the timing coincides with the recent announcement of an April 16, 2028 election, a date that would allow Erdoğan to bypass a constitutional bar on a further term. He said Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who champions “traditional family values,” is likely to become a vocal figure in the campaign. Tar fears he could be arrested on charges such as obscenity, aiding prostitution or alleged foreign financial ties, accusations previously used against other detainees. While same-sex relations remain legal, the activist highlighted persistent homophobia and a lack of robust opposition support, warning that the crackdown could spark broader societal repression.