ISTANBUL — Police detained dozens of individuals who gathered outside Istanbul’s Cağlayan Courthouse on Tuesday, protesting the recent detention of LGBTQ+ activists during a broader crackdown.
Law enforcement officers surrounded the gathering before detaining the protesters.
On Sunday, Turkish authorities launched a sweeping operation targeting LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals, detaining dozens of members, raiding association offices, and blocking their websites.
The operation, named “My Family is Safe,” targeted 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses, with authorities citing the need to “protect children, the institution of the family, and public order,” according to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty expressed concern over the raids, stating that references to “family values” or “protection of children” do not justify human rights restrictions. He called for the release of detained activists and pledged continued monitoring.
Demonstrators outside the courthouse carried signs reading “Being LGBT+ and organizing is not a crime” and chanted slogans advocating for LGBTQ+ rights before police intervened.
Banu Aslan, 36, one of the protesters, told The Associated Press, “We are going through a period where there is an attempt by the ruling power to portray LGBT+ people as the cause of every problem in this society.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, rooted in Turkey’s Islamic movement, has increasingly criticized LGBTQ+ groups to appeal to conservative voters. In 2015, it banned Istanbul Pride, which previously drew tens of thousands, and violently dispersed subsequent attempts to hold the event.
This summer, an LGBTQ+ cruise ship that operates Mediterranean tours was denied entry to Turkey, ending its planned visit.