Turkey detains dozens after sweeping raids targeting LGBTQ groups, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/turkey-detains-dozens-sweeping-raids-targeting-lgbtq-groups-rcna597476)
13-09-2026
Turkish authorities launched sweeping nationwide operations targeting LGBTQ+ groups and associations in a campaign officially dubbed “My Family is Safe” [cite: 1.1.5].Key details of the crackdown:
- Detentions and Raids: Prosecutors reported the detention of dozens of suspects (with official figures citing 26 to over 38 people across multiple provinces, while local groups like Kaos GL put the activist detainee count higher, including home raids) alongside searches targeting LGBTQ+ association offices and businesses across several provinces [cite: 1.1.5].
- Government Justification: Officialsincluding statements tied to broader demographic and family initiatives promoted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (such as the “Decade of Family and Population”)framed the crackdown as a measure to protect family and moral values, alleging that underage individuals were being inappropriately influenced regarding sexual orientation and gender identity [cite: 1.1.5].
- Censorship & Actions: Authorities seized digital equipment, drugs, smuggled items, and blocked access to numerous websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTI+ organizations and advocates [cite: 1.1.5].
- Criticism: Human rights organizations and associations strongly condemned the operations, characterizing them as state-led discrimination, a political use of fear, and an attempt to dismantle civil society rather than a genuine safety initiative [cite: 1.1.5].