Full Breakdown
Turkey’s “My Family Is Safe” Crackdown Targets LGBTQ+ Community
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Nationwide Raids and Mass Detentions
In mid-September 2026 Turkish prosecutors coordinated simultaneous raids in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin and Mersin. The operations, dubbed “My Family Is Safe,” resulted in the detention of dozens of LGBTQ+ activists, the jailing of association members, and the seizure of digital equipment. Police also blocked access to dozens of websites and social-media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ groups.
Background & Context
The crackdown follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of Family and Population” programme, launched in May 2025 to counter Turkey’s declining birth rate. Government officials have framed LGBTQ+ visibility as a threat to “family values” and have used obscenity and prostitution allegations as legal pretexts. Since 2015 the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has banned Istanbul Pride and dispersed attempted gatherings.
Data & Statistics
- 162 suspects, 9 associations and 13 businesses face judicial proceedings across 15 provinces (Justice Minister Akin Gurlek).
- At least 126 people were detained during protests in Istanbul and Ankara.
- 31 people were arrested pending trial on the same day.
- 54 people were jailed in other provinces as part of the operation.
- Over 100 online accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ organisations were blocked after the raids.
Official Statements & Responses
- 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 Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand reminded that, as an EU accession candidate, Turkey must respect the rights of all individuals regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
- The European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor described the wave of arrests as a “shocking escalation” of repression.
Criticism & Opposition
- Yildiz Taghizade, advocacy officer at Women for Women’s Human Rights, said: “The aim is not only to target LGBTQ+ people, but to practically ban the LGBTQ+ community from engaging in politics, getting organized, claiming rights and showing presence in the public sphere.”
- Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director at Human Rights Watch, interpreted the arrests as proof of a governmental intent to criminalise LGBTQ+ persons without new legislation.
- Domestic medical and workers’ groups, including the Turkish Medical Association and the Turkish Workers’ Party, denounced the raids as violations of human rights and called for the immediate release of detainees.
On-the-Ground Reports
Banu Aslan, a 36-year-old demonstrator, told the Associated Press that the ruling party is portraying LGBTQ+ people as the cause of societal problems. Police surrounded the crowd, used tear-gas in Izmir and detained participants in both cities.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Detention figures vary: Reuters reported at least 47 detainees, while Turkish officials cite 162 people facing legal action.
- Arrest counts differ: one source notes 31 people arrested pending trial, another mentions 18 jailed in Izmir on the same day.
- The legal basis for website blocks was a court ruling announced on September 13, but the exact number of blocked sites (ranging from “dozens” to “more than 100”) is not consistently reported.
What’s Next
Prosecutors have indicated that the investigations will proceed in the courts, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks. The European Union and European Parliament have signalled ongoing monitoring of Turkey’s compliance with international human-rights obligations. Rights groups plan to challenge the website blocks and seek the release of all detained activists.