Turkey Arrests Dozens as Crackdown on LGBTQI+ Groups Escalates
Turkey has arrested at least 31 people and detained more than 120 protesters as authorities intensify a crackdown on LGBTQI+ groups across the country.
Five transgender women were among those arrested in Ankara, while 26 others were detained in the southern province of Mersin. Police also intervened against protesters in Istanbul and Ankara who were demanding the release of LGBTQI+ activists.
The arrests followed nationwide raids targeting LGBTQI+ groups, associations and businesses, with authorities also restricting access to several websites and social media accounts. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the operation was aimed at protecting children, the family and public order.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expressed concern over the arrests and restrictions, calling on Turkish authorities to release people detained for human rights and civil society activities.
