Widespread arrests in Turkey following police operations against LGBTQI+ groups have caused severe concern within this community and sparked international reactions. Specifically, in recent days, at least 82 people have been arrested in several provinces of Turkey due to activities related to LGBTQI+ rights.
Description of Events and Dimensions of Repression
These operations, which began on Saturday, included coordinated raids on nine LGBTQI+ organizations, clubs, cafes, and homes. The charges include activities related to LGBTQI+ rights, prostitution, and other crimes; however, many of those arrested have not been charged for supporting the rights of homosexuals. Justice Minister, Akın Gürlek, has announced that legal action will be taken against 162 individuals, including nine associations and 13 businesses in 15 provinces of Turkey.
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These arrests have provoked widespread reactions internationally. The UN Human Rights Office has urged Turkey to uphold human rights without discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained. On Friday, protests were held outside Turkish embassies in various cities including Paris, Brussels, London, Oslo, and Washington.
Community Response and Political Reactions
Protesters in Turkey, particularly outside the main courthouse in Istanbul, have stated that they will continue to support the LGBTQI+ community. One protester named Ayş stated, "I am here because I want to say that LGBTQ+ friends in this country are not alone." She also added that the conditions for supporting this community in Turkey are extremely difficult.
Oğul Saki, a parliamentary representative of the opposition party DEM, also attended the protests and utilized his parliamentary immunity against arrest. Saki stated, "This repression against LGBTQ+ individuals is an attempt to compress the community into a specific type." He emphasized that the community should live equally and freely, and no one should be discriminated against because of their identity.
The actions of the Turkish police and government have faced severe criticism from the European Union and human rights organizations. The representative of Human Rights Watch in Turkey, Emma Sinclair-Webb, described these actions as an attempt to ignore and stigmatize individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
These repressions have been characterized as part of a broader effort to suppress any form of dissent against the government. Sinclair-Webb stated that these operations should be viewed in the context of a much wider crackdown that includes anyone identified as an opponent of the government.
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