Full Breakdown
Turkey’s “My Family Is Safe” Raids Target LGBTQ+ Groups
By Drooid · · How we work
The Coordinated Raids
In the early hours of a Sunday, police units moved simultaneously through Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin and Mersin, later extending to provinces such as Antalya, Çanakkale, Balikesir, Ordu, Elazig, Kirsehir, Igdir and Hatay. Officers entered the offices of six LGBTQ+ associations, private homes of activists, gay bars, nightclubs, a men’s hammam and venues linked to HIV-support organisations. Digital devices, small quantities of narcotics, 2,000 bottles of illicit alcohol and an unlicensed handgun were seized.
Background & Context
The operation occurs amid a decade-long campaign by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to portray LGBTQ+ advocacy as a threat to “family values.” Since banning Istanbul Pride in 2015, authorities have repeatedly dispersed attempted marches. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of Family and Population” (2026-2035) frames the raids as a response to Turkey’s falling birth rate, linking LGBTQ+ visibility to demographic decline. Homosexuality was decriminalised in the Ottoman Empire in 1858, yet discrimination remains pervasive.
Data & Statistics
- Investigations target 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces (Justice Minister Akin Gürlek).
- Detention figures differ: Reuters reported at least 47 people detained on September 13; Al Jazeera cited 63; DW mentioned 162 arrests; Kaos GL said “nearly 50” defenders were taken into custody.
- Provincial breakdowns include 26 detainees in Istanbul, 21 in Ankara, and 16 of 18 detainees remanded in Izmir.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors in the five cities alleged offences such as prostitution, obscenity, formation of criminal organisations, and the alleged “inappropriate influence” of children on sexual-orientation issues. The operation was presented as part of the “My Family Is Safe” campaign aligned with the President’s demographic programme. Authorities also highlighted the seizure of drugs, alcohol and a firearm as evidence of criminal activity.
Criticism & Opposition
Kaos GL, Turkey’s longest-established LGBTQ+ rights group, reported that activists faced interrogations and that websites and social-media accounts of dozens of organisations were blocked. Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, called the mass detentions “a shocking escalation” and a violation of fundamental rights. Workers’ Party leader Erkan Bas questioned the safety of families under such operations, and Özgül Saki, a DEM party lawmaker, affirmed that “LGBTQ rights are human rights.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the total number of people detained. Reuters provides a concrete figure of 47 on September 13, while Al Jazeera and other outlets cite 60-63 detainees. DW’s headline claims 162 arrests, a number that matches the broader investigation but not confirmed arrests. Kaos GL’s estimate of “nearly 50” adds further variation. No source confirms how many of the detained individuals have been formally charged or released, leaving the legal outcomes of the operation unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As per the duty to protect families and children given to the state by the constitution, no criminal organization, abuse network or illegal activity which targets children, youths or families will be tolerated!” — Akin Gurlek, justice minister
- “When police arrive at the door of an LGBTI+ association, when a rights defender is taken from home at night, when a solidarity channel is blocked, which family has been made safe?” — Workers’ Party
- “This imposition of a moral agenda is a blatant violation of fundamental rights and Turkey's international commitments taking the country down a dark path,” — Nacho Sanchez Amor