Story perspectives

Turkish Police Raid LGBTQ+ Venues, Detain 162

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 2:29 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Turkish police raided LGBTQ+ offices, gay bars and venues in several cities, detaining at least 162 people.
The “My Family is Safe” operation was framed as protecting children and families under Erdogan’s family-population initiative.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said probes aim to stop criminal activity against children and families.
The Human Rights Association called the raids a move to enforce a monolithic family model and suppress society.

History

Historical Context

Turkey’s first gay pride marched in 2003, but authorities repeatedly banned it, culminating in a 2015 water-cannon dispersal. The 2013 Gezi protests saw LGBTQ groups rally with roughly 100,000 participants, while successive bans under the AKP intensified, prompting EU criticism and Human Rights Association calls for reform. Recent coordinated raids have again targeted LGBTQ organizations.

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Story summary

Turkish police raided LGBTQ+ offices, gay bars and venues in several cities, detaining at least 162 people.
The “My Family is Safe” operation was framed as protecting children and families under Erdogan’s family-population initiative.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said probes aim to stop criminal activity against children and families.
The Human Rights Association called the raids a move to enforce a monolithic family model and suppress society.

1 / 2