Turkish courts have jailed dozens of LGBTQ+ activists and others pending trial as authorities widen a nationwide investigation targeting LGBTQ+ organisations, activists and businesses.
The crackdown began over the weekend under an operation called “My Family is Safe”, which the government says is aimed at protecting children, families and public order.
Authorities said the investigation involves 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. Police have also raided association offices and other venues and restricted access to websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ groups and activists.
By Wednesday, courts in several cities had ordered at least 81 people detained pending trial, according to LGBTQ+ rights organisation Kaos GL. Among those jailed were members of Kaos GL, one of Turkey’s prominent LGBTQ+ rights groups.
In Ankara, a court jailed 13 people, including seven Kaos GL members, five transgender people and a journalist. Another 28 people were reportedly jailed in the southern province of Mersin.
In Istanbul, 20 of 33 people brought before a court were jailed, while the remaining 13 were granted conditional release, according to Kaos GL.
Prosecutors have accused some of those detained of offences including facilitating the publication of obscene material. Court documents cited suspects’ roles in organisations, social media activity and evidence gathered during police investigations.
The authorities have defended the operation as part of efforts to protect children and family values. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has said the government would not tolerate activities it considers harmful to children, young people or families.
The arrests have drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ organisations, opposition groups and international human rights bodies. Kaos GL has described the operation as politically motivated, while Amnesty International has called for detained activists to be released and for the crackdown to end.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has also expressed concern over the arrests, raids and online restrictions, saying references to family values or child protection cannot by themselves justify restrictions on human rights.
The crackdown has also triggered protests. More than 100 demonstrators detained during a protest outside an Istanbul courthouse on Tuesday were later released, according to rights lawyers.
Same-sex relations remain legal in Turkey, but LGBTQ+ people and organisations have faced increasing pressure in recent years. The government has designated 2026 as the beginning of a “Decade of the Family”, while authorities have continued to restrict LGBTQ+ events and organisations.
The latest arrests represent a significant escalation in the pressure on LGBTQ+ groups, with legal proceedings now underway in several parts of the country. The cases are expected to remain under close scrutiny as Turkish courts determine whether those detained will face further prosecution.
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