Turkish police detain dozens in raids on gay bars and homes of LGBTQ+ activists

Sep 14, 2026 10:07 AM - 8 hours ago 3

Reuters Riot police, pinch a rainbow emblem successful the background, pursuit LGBT activists arsenic they effort to stitchery for a pridefulness parade, which was banned by the governorship successful Istanbul. Officers are wearing achromatic uniforms, wearing state masks, and are carrying helmets and riot shields arsenic they move done what appears to beryllium a residential street. Reuters

Riot constabulary person regularly chased LGBT activists during erstwhile attempts to stitchery for pridefulness parades

Police successful Turkey person detained 47 group successful a bid of raids connected cheery bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists, officials say.

Raids took spot successful 12 provinces complete the play arsenic portion of a run dubbed "My Family is Safe" that the Turkish authorities says has been designed to protect family values.

One of the targets of the cognition was LGBTQ+ relation Kaos GL.

Same-sex matrimony is not recognised successful Turkey, pinch increasing unit connected cheery couples. Human authorities groups successful Turkey person accused the authorities of utilizing the run to target the LGBTQ+ community.

Officers detained 26 group and seized drugs, integer equipment, smuggled intoxicant and a firearm during the raids, according to the Istanbul main prosecutor's office.

In a abstracted statement, the Ankara main prosecutor's agency said different 21 group had been detained arsenic portion of an investigation into Kaos GL.

The organisation said 50 activists had been detained, much than 10 taken aft constabulary raids connected their homes.

It said that authorities had blocked respective websites and societal media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organisations.

According to the group, authorities person accused Kaos GL of making "obscenity" successful online posts that are disposable to children and had demanded the shutting down of the Kaos GL X account, arsenic good arsenic those of astir 15 different LGBTQ+ organisations.

Same-sex relations are not an offence successful Turkey but homophobia is common, pinch President Recep Tayyip Erdogan describing LGBTQ group arsenic "perverts" responsible for the falling commencement rate.

As portion of "My Family is Safe", Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek says ineligible proceedings person been started against much than 160 group and a number of organisations and companies crossed the country.

Gurlek did not opportunity really galore group had been taken into custody, but said the raids came successful the discourse of the "Decade of the Family" campaign.

However, the Turkish Human Rights Association says the Turkish authorities has been utilizing the run to target the LGBTQ+ organization successful caller years.

"The existent sanction of this cognition is not 'My Family is Safe'; it is state-led discrimination, authorities of fearfulness and the dismantling of civilian society," the organisation said connected X.

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