Raids and Arrests in Turkey as Part of Campaign Targeting the LGBTQ+ Community

Al-Taj News –

Prosecutors said Turkish authorities arrested at least 47 people and searched the premises of LGBTQ+ community associations in a series of raids as part of an investigation into prostitution and obscenity.

The raids are part of a campaign that the government says aims to protect family values.

The Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office said the operations were carried out in 12 provinces against 38 suspects earlier this week, resulting in the arrest of 26 of them and the seizure of drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm.

In a separate statement, the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office said that another 21 people had been arrested as part of an investigation involving the LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL, noting that efforts were still underway to locate five others.

Kaos GL said that the authorities had detained at least 50 activists, including more than 10 people whom police arrested during raids on their homes.

The association added that the authorities had blocked access to dozens of websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organizations, activists, and rights defenders.