On September 13, 2026, in a terrifying, state-sponsored assault on basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, Turkish authorities launched coordinated nationwide raids targeting LGBTQ organizations, prominent advocates, and safe spaces across multiple provinces under the state-sanctioned banner “My Family Is Safe.”
Police forces raided civil rights headquarters, community centers, and local queer venues across major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, terrorizing community members and detaining activists who have long fought for equality, dignity, and survival in an increasingly hostile political climate.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed the authoritarian crackdowns on Sunday, September 13, 2026, revealing that state machinery has targeted 162 individuals, nine human rights associations, and 13 LGBTQ-owned or friendly businesses across 15 provinces.
Gürlek weaponized state bureaucracy by linking the raids directly to Presidential Circular No. 2026/4 and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “2026–2035 Decade of Family and Population”—a regressive political campaign designed to scapegoat vulnerable marginalized groups to bolster conservative rule.
The raids have drawn fierce outrage from international human rights defenders, queer liberation groups, and civil society leaders, who condemn the Turkish regime’s systematic campaign to erase LGBTQ existence.
Advocates emphasize that genuine safety comes from protecting all citizens and upholding basic rights, warning that the government’s state-sanctioned homophobia and transphobia will only strengthen the resilience of Turkey’s brave, unwavering LGBTQ movement.
