Turkish authorities detained dozens of people in coordinated raids on LGBTQ organisations, HIV-support groups and related venues across several provinces on 13 September. Offices were searched and a number of websites and social-media accounts were blocked, Reuters and AP reported. [1] [2]
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the investigations cover 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses in 15 provinces. Authorities alleged offences including prostitution and obscenity and framed the operation as protecting children and family values; the allegations had not been adjudicated at publication time. [1] [2]
ContextRights organisations and LGBTQ groups criticised the raids as discriminatory and politically motivated. The operation marks a further escalation in state pressure on civil-society organisations working on sexual-orientation, gender-identity and public-health issues. [1] [2]