Raids in Turkey target LGBTQ+ bars and activists, sparking global rights concerns

Turkish authorities have detained dozens of LGBTQ+ activists and bar workers in coordinated raids across 12 provinces, heightening fears over escalating state pressure on queer communities and civil society.

According to official statements reported by the BBC, police detained at least 47 people over the weekend in operations carried out under the government’s “My Family is Safe” campaign, which it says is designed to protect family values. Human rights organisations, however, say the initiative is being used as a broad tool to suppress LGBTQ+ people, advocacy groups and online expression.

Coordinated raids on bars, homes and LGBTQ+ groups

The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office reported that officers detained 26 people during raids on gay bars and other venues. Police said they seized drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and a firearm as part of the operation.

In Ankara, prosecutors confirmed that an additional 21 individuals were detained under an investigation focused on the prominent LGBTQ+ organisation Kaos GL, one of the country’s leading queer rights groups.

Kaos GL stated that, in total, 50 activists were taken into custody, including more than 10 people detained following early-morning raids on their homes. The group reported that several websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organisations had been blocked.

Authorities have accused Kaos GL of “obscenity” in online posts deemed accessible to children, and reportedly demanded the closure of the organisation’s account on X, along with those of around 15 other LGBTQ+ organisations.

Legal framework and hostile rhetoric

Same-sex relations are legal in Turkey, yet LGBTQ+ people face entrenched social stigma, legal vulnerability and recurring political attacks. Same-sex marriage is not recognised, and protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity remain limited.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly used hostile language about LGBTQ+ people, describing them as “perverts” and linking them to concerns about Turkey’s birth rate. Rights advocates say such rhetoric emboldens harassment, normalises discrimination and enables broad campaigns like “My Family is Safe”.

‘State-led discrimination’ and pressure on civil society

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said legal proceedings have been initiated against more than 160 individuals, along with a number of organisations and companies, under the “My Family is Safe” programme. He did not specify how many people had been detained nationwide, but said the operations were taking place in the context of a broader government effort branded the “Decade of the Family”.

The Turkish Human Rights Association criticised the campaign, arguing that it functions as a tool for systematic repression of LGBTQ+ groups and wider civil society.

“The real name of this operation is ‘state-led discrimination, politics of fear and the dismantling of civil society’,” the association said in a statement on X, adding that the targeting of LGBTQ+ organisations is part of a multi-year pattern.

Rights groups warn that blocking queer organisations’ online presence, criminalising their communications and disrupting their physical spaces risk erasing crucial support networks in a context where stigma and political hostility are intensifying.

Be aware in your workplace

LGBTQ+ employees in Turkey and globally may experience heightened anxiety when governments publicly target queer communities. Employers that operate in or with Turkey need to prioritise psychological safety, access to support and clear non-discrimination policies.

Companies with distributed teams may need to consider relocation support, flexible work arrangements or additional benefits for LGBTQ+ employees who feel unsafe in certain jurisdictions.

As businesses seek to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion in an evolving global landscape, access to credible LGBTQ+ business communities and resources becomes more important.

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