Turkish police conduct nationwide raids targeting LGBTQ+ activists and groups, detaining 26 people, according to multiple outlets. The operations involve searches of homes and other locations associated with LGBTQ+ community activity, including bars and gathering places, carried out across many provinces.
Authorities present the crackdown as part of a “My Family is Safe” campaign aimed at protecting traditional family values. The Times of India reports that law enforcement also seizes alleged prohibited items and technical equipment, while Cyprus Mail says legal proceedings are initiated against a larger set of suspects, associations, and companies. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek is cited as stating the scope of the case.
Rights advocates quoted by several sources describe the actions as an assault on civil liberties and community support. The Jerusalem Post adds that the campaign aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s broader “Decade of Family and Population” efforts, which focus on population and falling birth rates. The Independent frames the raids within a wider context of increasing government scrutiny of LGBTQ+ people.
