Internet State

Raids targeting LGBTQ+ activists and organizations occurred in Turkey, resulting in several arrests and the blocking of over 100 social media accounts connected to these groups. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan framed the operation as part of a "Decade of Family and Population" initiative aimed at combating declining birth rates, while critics, including 120 women's rights organizations, condemned the government's actions as an authoritarian attempt to criminalize LGBTQ+ identities and activities. The raids, supported by a narrative of "family safety," were met with protests in Istanbul and widespread condemnation from various sectors, including the medical community and trade associations.

During recent weekend raids in Turkey targeting LGBTQ+ activists and organizations, several individuals were arrested, and over 100 social media accounts associated with these groups were blocked, amid claims of protecting "family and children." The raids have sparked significant criticism from both domestic and international organizations, including joint declarations from 120 women's rights groups condemning the government's criminalization of LGBTQ+ advocacy as part of a broader strategy initiated under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of Family and Population" scheme. Critics, including the Turkish Medical Association and political leaders, have described these actions as human rights violations, emphasizing that the existence and organization of LGBTQ+ individuals should not be considered a crime.

Turkey has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ+ communities, with recent raids on gay bars and homes leading to hundreds of arrests, reflecting a broader trend of authoritarian regimes using LGBTQ+ issues as scapegoats to distract from political crises. The country ranks 47th out of 49 in the Rainbow Map, indicating very unfriendly laws and policies towards LGBTQ+ individuals, while a report highlights a coordinated global attack on women and LGBTQI+ rights, particularly in nations like Burkina Faso and Trinidad and Tobago. In Serbia, although homosexuality is not criminalized, 80% of individuals surveyed reported avoiding public displays of affection, indicating a growing marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community amid rising violence linked to political factions.

Turkish police detained at least 63 people during nationwide raids targeting LGBTQ organizations in major cities, as part of an operation dubbed "My Family is Safe." Prosecutors have launched investigations into 162 suspects, encompassing nine associations and 13 businesses, amid a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights and activities that has intensified over the past decade. Rights organizations reported that nearly 50 LGBTQ activists are either in custody or facing legal proceedings, denouncing the government's actions as state-led discrimination rather than protecting families.

Police in Turkey have detained 47 people during raids on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists across 12 provinces, part of a campaign labeled "My Family is Safe." The Istanbul chief prosecutor reported that 26 individuals were detained along with drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm, while the Ankara chief prosecutor indicated another 21 people were held in connection with LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL. Human rights groups argue this campaign constitutes state-led discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, with more than 160 legal proceedings initiated against individuals and organizations under the guise of protecting family values.

Turkish police have arrested at least 162 people and searched six LGBTQ+ associations as part of a crackdown on what the government claims are threats to family values, leading to accusations of obscenity and prostitution in 15 provinces. The operations, part of President Erdogan's "Decade of Family and Population" initiative, also included seizures of drugs and illegal goods while authorities aim to prevent LGBTQ+ activities from being perceived as normal in society. Rights groups argue that this targeted approach unfairly persecutes the LGBTQ+ community amidst broader structural issues contributing to declining birthrates, which fell from 2.11 in 2013 to 1.51 in 2023, driven by economic and social factors rather than lifestyle choices.