Turkish authorities have jailed at least 31 people pending trial and detained 126 protesters as a nationwide operation targeting LGBTQ+ organisations and individuals expands.
The “My Family is Safe” operation now covers 15 provinces, 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses.
Authorities have carried out raids, blocked websites and made arrests as part of investigations involving LGBTQ+ groups and related organisations.
The Turkish government says the operation is intended to protect children, family values and public order.
Some investigations also involve specific allegations including prostitution and obscenity.
The crackdown prompted protests in Ankara and Istanbul, where Reuters reports 126 demonstrators were detained.
At least 31 people targeted in the wider operation have been jailed pending trial.
Detention or pre-trial imprisonment does not establish guilt.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights has criticised the breadth of the measures and called for people detained for legitimate civil-society activity to be released.
The operation comes under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, whose governing political movement has roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement and has increasingly promoted conservative family policies.
The distinction between prosecuting specific offences and restricting lawful political or civil-society activity is now at the centre of the dispute.
Sources
- Reuters – Turkey expands operation targeting LGBTQ+ groups as protesters are detained
- Associated Press – Istanbul protest and wider ‘My Family is Safe’ operation
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