Turkey: A Major Operation Against LGBT+ Activists and Venues in the Name of Family

Sunday 13 September 2026 - 15:35

Turkish authorities have launched a significant series of operations against activists, organizations, and establishments linked to the LGBT+ community. Conducted in 15 provinces, these interventions have resulted in dozens of arrests and new restrictions targeting accounts and websites. The government presents this campaign as a measure aimed at preserving family and social order.

Coordinated Operations Across Multiple Provinces

Turkish police conducted numerous raids on Sunday morning in bars, establishments frequented by the LGBT+ community, as well as the homes of activists.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek announced the opening of proceedings against 162 individuals, nine associations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir are among the main cities affected.

Authorities have dubbed this campaign "My Family is Safe." According to the minister, some targeted individuals are suspected of "obscenity" or aiding prostitution.

Akin Gürlek linked these operations to the "Decade of Family," an initiative promoted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and presented as a means to strengthen the protection of children, family, and social order.

At Least 63 People Detained

The operations have already led to the detention of at least 63 individuals, according to the prosecutors' offices in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir, as reported by the state news agency Anadolu.

In Istanbul, several gay bars and a nightclub popular with the LGBT+ community were specifically targeted. A men's bathhouse also faced police intervention.

The organization Kaos GL, one of Turkey's leading LGBT+ rights advocacy groups, is also among the targeted entities. Its premises were searched, and 21 individuals were detained as part of the investigation against it, according to the Ankara prosecutor's office.

Authorities accuse the organization of having disseminated content deemed obscene online.

Kaos GL Denounces an Offensive Against Rights Defenders

Kaos GL presents a very different interpretation of the operation. It claims that several dozen defenders of LGBTI+ rights have been detained or subjected to judicial procedures involving interrogations.

The organization reported nearly 50 individuals affected nationwide at the time the operations were launched.

This campaign comes amid increased pressure on LGBT+ organizations and activists in Turkey. Authorities have also targeted their online presence.

Social Media and Websites Under Scrutiny

The digital aspect of the operation is one of the other significant facets of this offensive.

Kaos GL's X account, as well as those of about fifteen other associations and activists, were blocked on Saturday at the request of the authorities. Thirty-one additional accounts were subsequently restricted on Sunday, according to an organization specializing in defending freedom of expression.

Several websites have also been rendered inaccessible. Authorities have additionally requested the blocking of dozens of Instagram and YouTube accounts as well as Facebook pages belonging to LGBT+ associations or activists.

These measures thus extend the campaign beyond physical locations and those detained, also limiting the digital visibility of the affected organizations.

A Policy Explicitly Stated in the Name of Family

For the Turkish government, these operations are part of a broader policy to defend traditional family values. Authorities present the protection of children and the maintenance of social order as priorities justifying these interventions.

For LGBT+ organizations, these measures represent a further step in the pressure exerted on their activities and freedom of expression.

The increase in searches, judicial procedures, and digital blocks demonstrates that the LGBT+ issue remains at the heart of a particularly sensitive political and societal confrontation in Turkey.