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Turkish Police Detain Dozens in Raids on Gay Bars and LGBTQ+ Activists' Homes
Confirmed
In Short: Turkish authorities have detained 47 people in raids targeting gay bars and homes of LGBTQ+ activists, part of a campaign to protect family values.
Turkish police conducted raids in 12 provinces over the weekend, detaining 26 people during operations on gay bars and seizing drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm, according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office. In addition, 21 more people were detained as part of an investigation into Kaos GL, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, according to the Ankara chief prosecutor's office.
Kaos GL reported that 50 activists had been detained, with 10 taken after police raids on their homes. The group also stated that authorities had blocked several websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organizations. The Turkish Justice Minister, Akin Gurlek, announced that legal proceedings had been initiated against more than 160 people and a number of organizations and companies across the country, as part of the 'My Family is Safe' campaign.
Human rights groups in Turkey have accused the government of using the campaign to target the LGBTQ+ community. The raids took place in the context of the 'Decade of the Family' campaign, which the government says aims to protect family values. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously described LGBTQ people as 'perverts' and blamed them for the falling birth rate.
Riot police have also regularly chased LGBT activists during previous attempts to gather for pride parades. The LGBT rights group Kaos GL, one of the oldest and largest in Turkey, said at least 50 activists had been detained, including 10 arrested during raids on their homes. The group accused authorities of accusing them of making 'obscenity' in online posts that are available to children and demanding the shutting down of the Kaos GL X account, as well as those of around 15 other LGBTQ+ organizations.
What's confirmed
- Officers detained 26 people and seized drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and a firearm during the raids, according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office.
What's still developing
- One of the targets of the operation was LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL.
- Officers targeted popular hangouts, current and former members of prominent LGBTQ+ rights groups and blocked their websites.