More than ten arrested in one night: Turkey's new move against the LGBTQ+ community

Turkish authorities have blocked websites and accounts of LGBTQ+ organizations and activists, and arrested more than ten people in raids in Istanbul. Human rights organizations claim this is a systematic escalation of oppression.

Turkish authorities have launched a widespread crackdown on LGBTQ+ organizations, blocking websites and accounts of dozens of groups and activists, and arresting at least ten people in overnight raids in Istanbul. The Seventh Criminal Court of Peace in Istanbul ordered the blocking of sites including Kaos GL, 17 Mayıs, ÜniKuir, Pembe Hayat, SPoD, Genç LGBTİ+, Lambdaistanbul, and Muamma LGBTİ+, as well as accounts of activists, journalists, women's organizations, and student groups. Some X accounts have already been removed from access within Turkey. Meanwhile, police raided the offices of Kaos GL and the homes of board members, arresting more than ten activists on suspicion of "publishing obscenity" and violating the associations law. Additional raids were conducted in the Beyoğlu and Şişli areas, including nightclubs, massage parlors, and businesses in Taksim, Cihangir, and İstiklal Street. The measures follow months of expanding restrictions: over the summer, more than a hundred accounts were blocked, and in July, 93 accounts and pages were reported as restricted. The Istanbul Pride Parade has been banned almost every year since 2015. Human rights organizations claim this is a systematic effort to reduce LGBTQ+ presence in public and digital spaces. The authorities justify some of the blocks as necessary to protect "national security and public order."