Turkish police have carried out coordinated raids on LGBTQ+ rights and HIV-advocacy organisations in five cities, arresting activists and journalists under obscenity laws, with more than 150 people detained during protests, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Turkish police raided LGBTQ+ rights and HIV-advocacy groups starting in the early hours of Sunday, according to the Guardian.
- Raids took place in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Aydın and Mersin.
- More than 150 people were arrested during protests against the raids.
- Authorities justified the operation using accusations of obscenity.
- A minister said the raids were intended to 'protect families,' according to the Guardian.
Turkish authorities have used accusations of obscenity to justify a wave of raids and arrests targeting the LGBTQ+ community, according to the Guardian. The crackdown has grown to include journalists as well as more than 150 people arrested during protests against the raids.
The operation began in the early hours of Sunday, when Turkish police carried out simultaneous raids on the offices of LGBTQ+ rights organisations and HIV-advocacy groups across several cities, the Guardian reported.
The raids targeted groups in Istanbul, the capital Ankara, and the coastal city of İzmir, as well as the cities of Aydın and Mersin, according to the Guardian.
Protesters who gathered in response to the raids were teargassed, according to the Guardian. More than 150 people were arrested during those demonstrations.
A government minister claimed the raids and arrests, carried out under obscenity laws, were intended to ‘protect families,’ according to the Guardian.
According to the Guardian, those detained include journalists as well as activists and staff of advocacy organisations.
Why it matters
The coordinated raids and the use of obscenity laws to detain activists and journalists point to an intensifying official response to LGBTQ+ organisations and press in Turkey. Further details, including the outcomes for those detained, are not yet known.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities were affected by the raids?
According to the Guardian, the raids targeted organisations in Istanbul, the capital Ankara, İzmir, Aydın and Mersin.
How many people were arrested?
More than 150 people were arrested during protests against the raids, according to the Guardian.
What justification did Turkish authorities give?
Authorities used accusations of obscenity to justify the operation, and a minister claimed the raids were intended to 'protect families,' according to the Guardian.