Turkish authorities have launched a large-scale operation targeting LGBTQ+ people, rights defenders, civil society organisations, journalists and businesses under the stated aim of protecting “family values”. According to ARTICLE 19, the operation targeted 162 individuals, nine organisations and several businesses between 12 and 14 September. As of 17 September, 116 people had been detained, including 44 LGBTQ+ rights defenders, with at least 25 placed in pre-trial detention. Authorities also raided organisational offices and seized phones, computers and other digital equipment containing sensitive information about beneficiaries, activists, survivors of violence, people living with HIV, lawyers and donors. The raids followed court orders blocking access to the websites and social media accounts of LGBTQ+ organisations, media outlets, journalists and rights defenders, while investigations were announced into the foreign funding of organisations accused of promoting “LGBT and immorality”. Solidarity protests across Türkiye prompted further police intervention and arrests. Read more here.
Source: ARTICLE 19
