Dozens detained in Turkish raids on LGBTQ venues and activists’ homes
Turkish authorities linked the reported operation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of the Family” initiative.
Turkish police reportedly detained dozens of people on Sunday during raids on LGBTQ bars and the homes of LGBTQ activists, according to France 24 International.
Authorities said the operation was conducted in the context of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of the Family”, an initiative they described as aimed at protecting children, the institution of the family and social order.
Retrieved reports put the number detained at at least 60, while historical reporting cited prosecutors as saying at least 63 people were held. The material supplied does not confirm the legal status of those detained or provide details of the legal grounds for the raids.
Historical reporting said the operation targeted LGBTQ organisations, businesses and activists in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Mersin. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek reportedly said prosecutors were investigating 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses.
Rights groups, opposition parties and a European Parliament rapporteur reportedly condemned the raids. The authorities’ stated rationale has not been independently established in the supplied material.
