Police detain demonstrators in Istanbul following crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists
Police on Tuesday detained dozens of demonstrators who staged a protest outside a courthouse in Istanbul to demand the release of LGBTQ+ activists taken into custody during a sweeping crackdown days earlier, reports BritPanorama.
The police surrounded the demonstrators outside the Caglayan courthouse before detaining them. On Sunday, Turkish authorities had launched a crackdown on multiple LGBTQ+ groups and individuals, leading to the detention of dozens of members, the forced entry into association offices, and the raiding of popular hangouts. Additionally, the websites of these organizations were also blocked.
The operation aimed to “protect children, the institution of the family, and public order,” according to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek. He stated that the operation, dubbed “My Family is Safe,” targeted 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights based in Strasbourg, expressed concerns over the raids and detentions. He asserted that “mere references to ‘family values’ or ‘protection of children’ cannot serve as legal justification for human rights restrictions.”
“I call on the Turkish authorities to release anyone detained for engaging in human rights or civil society work,” he added, promising to monitor the situation closely.
Outside the courthouse, demonstrators carried banners reading: “Being LGBT+ and organizing is not a crime” and chanted slogans in support of LGBTQ+ rights before police intervened. One protester, Banu Aslan, aged 36, remarked to The Associated Press, “We are going through a period where there is an attempt by the ruling power to portray LGBT+ people as the cause of every problem in this society.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, with its roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement, has intensified its rhetoric against LGBTQ+ groups, seeking to consolidate support from conservative factions. In 2015, the party banned Istanbul Pride, which previously attracted tens of thousands. Since then, authorities have violently dispersed any attempted Pride gatherings.
This summer, an LGBTQ+ cruise ship previously allowed to dock in Turkey was denied permission for what would have been a return visit, reflecting ongoing state opposition to LGBTQ+ visibility.
