Full Breakdown
Turkey’s “My Family Is Safe” Operation Targets LGBTQ+ Community
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Beginning on September 12, 2026, Turkish police raided LGBTQ+ bars, nightclubs, association offices and homes in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin and Mersin. The “My Family Is Safe” operation led to the arrest of dozens of activists, journalists and supporters, the seizure of digital equipment, and the blocking of over 100 social-media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ groups. Courts ordered the detention of at least 62 people on remand and placed additional suspects in pre-trial custody.
Background & Context
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of Family and Population” strategy, announced in May 2025, seeks to raise Turkey’s birth rate by promoting traditional family values. Over the past decade the government has repeatedly demonised LGBTQ+ people, banning Pride parades and labeling the community as “deviants.” The latest crackdown follows a pattern of using “family protection” rhetoric to justify repression of civil-society actors.
Data & Statistics
- Justice Minister Akin Gürlek announced investigations of 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces.
- Rights groups reported 62 people held on remand; other outlets cited over 100 detainees and 150+ arrests during protests.
- Court orders blocked more than 100 LGBTQ-related websites and social-media accounts between September 12 and 16.
- At least 31 individuals faced pending trials on September 15, and 126 protesters were detained during demonstrations.
Official Statements & Responses
Gürlek linked the raids to the “Decade of Family and Population” initiative, asserting that the investigations target venues allegedly involved in prostitution, obscenity and the exposure of children to “immoral” content.
“Our family ties are weakening, the average age of marriage is rising, divorce rates are increasing and as a result, our fertility rate is declining. To be honest, the statistics are alarming for all of us,” — Akin Gürlek, justice minister.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty said that references to “family values” cannot justify restrictions on fundamental freedoms.
Criticism & Opposition
“This crackdown is a blatant attempt to criminalize and marginalize LGBT people and silence the groups that stand up for their rights,” — Benjamin Ward, Human Rights Watch.
“This appalling escalation in Türkiye’s crackdown amounts to a full-scale assault on LGBTI rights and those who defend them,” — Esther Major, Amnesty International.
“The aim is not only to target LGBTQ+ people, but to practically ban the community from engaging in politics, getting organized, claiming rights and showing presence in the public sphere,” — Yildiz Taghizade.
On-the-Ground Reports
Police used tear gas in Izmir on September 14 and detained over 100 demonstrators in Istanbul the following day. Journalists Tugba Tekerek and a BirGun reporter were among those arrested while covering the protests. Rights group Kaos GL reported that seven of its executive-board members were detained on obscenity charges.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Arrest figures vary: the Guardian cites “more than 150” arrests, the BBC notes “dozens,” while Human Rights Watch records “at least 112” arrests with 82 still detained.
- The number of blocked online accounts ranges from “over 100” to “180” (Amnesty International).
- Precise charges remain opaque; prosecutors have invoked “obscenity,” “prostitution,” “drug-related offenses” and “criminal organization” statutes, but detailed evidence has not been disclosed.
What’s Next
International bodies, including the EU and the Council of Europe, have pledged ongoing monitoring and have called for the release of all detainees. The situation remains fluid as additional court hearings are scheduled for the detained activists.