LGBTQ+ Rights Crackdown Undermines Turkish Rule of Law

Image source：Özgür Gelecek

Scale of Government Action and Vague Allegations

Turkey's government initiated its largest coordinated assault targeting LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations and HIV support institutions during mid-September 2026. Synchronised raids across Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin, and Mersin targeted seven LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and two HIV support organisations, alongside raids on multiple entertainment venues. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the operation, designated "My Family Is Safe," involved criminal investigations of 162 individuals with allegations spanning "obscenity," sex work, drug-related offences, and association law violations.

Evidentiary Insufficiency and Judicial Breakdown

Alarming is the thinness of evidence supporting detentions. Courts have issued imprisonment orders based on extraordinarily weak evidentiary foundations. In Ankara, courts ordered detention of multiple Kaos GL executives relying solely on two social media photographs depicting men kissing as "obscenity" evidence.

More troubling still is journalist Tuğba Tekerek's situation. Prosecution allegations rest exclusively upon her 2024 news article addressing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia, published on Kaos news portal. Courts ordered her detention using this singular article as sole evidence. This effectively criminalises journalism itself.

Politicisation of Association Law

The crackdown exemplifies governmental politicisation of national association legislation. Turkish law governing associations contains ambiguous and overbroad provisions. Authorities exploit these to prosecute organisations non-aligned with governmental ideology. LGBTQ+ organisation lawyers reported police interrogation focused intensively on international funding sources, social media content, member recruitment, and organisational internal structures. While international funding receipt remains entirely lawful in Turkey provided authorities receive notification, government selectively categorises LGBTQ+ organisations receiving EU funding as violative whilst numerous government-aligned organisations receive identical funding without scrutiny.

Information Censorship and Erosion of Republican Foundations

The crackdown transcends individual and organisational arrests, extending to systematic suppression of expression freedoms and information circulation. Between September 12-16, courts ordered blocking dozens of social media platforms and websites belonging to LGBTQ+ organisations, Amnesty International Turkey, Evrensel newspaper, and media freedom groups. This information censorship exceeds legal boundaries, constituting direct assault on expression itself.

Justice Minister issued a September 14 circular to chief prosecutors nationwide titled "Protecting Family, Young People and Society from Violations of General Morality and Negative Content." The circular explicitly encourages prosecutors to investigate "activities promoting erasure of gender distinction in children and youth," systematically criminalising human rights advocacy.

Deeper Meaning of Legal System Crisis

International human rights organisations caution that this crackdown transcends isolated LGBTQ+ targeting, directly threatening Turkey's foundational legal framework. Through abusive application of legal statutes, arrest of peaceful advocacy practitioners and journalists, and systematic information suppression, Turkish authorities have effectively corrupted judicial independence, weaponising courts for political suppression.

"Family values" rhetoric, initially appearing conservative cultural policy, has evolved into pretext for authoritarian power expansion. This transformation threatens all society members, menacing not merely LGBTQ+ communities but all citizens seeking expression and association freedoms.

Asian Editorial Department: Kim Min-jun