Full Breakdown
Turkey’s “My Family is Safe” crackdown on LGBTQ+ groups
By Drooid · · How we work
The operation and immediate detentions
In mid-September 2026 Turkish authorities launched a coordinated sweep across 15 provinces—including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin and Mersin—under the banner “My Family is Safe.” Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced investigations of 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses. Police raids on gay bars, LGBTQ+ offices and private homes were followed that weekend by arrests and the blocking of dozens of websites and social-media accounts linked to the community.
Background & context
The operation is tied to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of Family and Population,” a policy declared in May 2025 to counter Turkey’s falling birth rate. Erdogan has described LGBTQ+ people as “perverts” and blamed them for demographic decline. Same-sex relations are not criminalised, but homophobic rhetoric has intensified since the 2015 ban on Istanbul Pride.
Data & statistics
- Arrests: Reuters reported at least 31 people arrested pending trial on 15 September 2026 and 126 protesters detained in Ankara and Istanbul; the BBC cited 47 detainees; Kaos GL, the targeted LGBTQ+ association, said about 50 activists were detained, including more than ten taken from their homes.
- Geographic scope: Raids occurred in 12 provinces on the weekend of 13 September 2026, with additional actions in Izmir, Aydin and Mersin.
- Digital censorship: An Istanbul court order on 12 September 2026 blocked the websites of Kaos GL and 15 other LGBTQ+ organisations; by the following day, over 100 accounts were inaccessible, including those of Amnesty International Turkey and the media outlet Evrensel.
- Seized items: Police reported confiscating drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and a firearm.
Official statements & responses
- “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
- Council of Europe: Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty warned that references to “family values” cannot justify human-rights restrictions and called for the release of anyone detained for civil-society work.
- European Union: Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said Turkey, as an EU accession candidate, must respect the dignity of all individuals regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Human Rights Watch: Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director, interpreted the arrests as proof of an intent to criminalise LGBTQ+ persons without new legislation.
Criticism & opposition
A coalition of Turkish NGOs—including women’s-rights organisations, the Turkish Medical Association and the Workers’ Party of Turkey—condemned the raids as a “politics of fear” that seeks to ban LGBTQ+ advocacy. European Parliament rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor called the arrests “a shocking escalation” of repression.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources differ on the total number of detainees: BBC, Reuters (31 pending trial plus 126 protesters), Daily Asian Age, and Kaos GL (?50). No single source provides a verified tally, and the status of many detainees remains unclear. The government cites “obscene” online content as justification, but the specific material alleged to be illegal has not been disclosed.
What’s next
Council of Europe Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty said he will continue to monitor the situation and urged Turkish authorities to release all individuals detained for exercising human-rights or civil-society activities. International bodies, including the EU and UN human-rights mechanisms, have been asked to intervene, but no concrete follow-up actions have been announced.