ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE (HRNW) — Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over coordinated police raids and arrests targeting LGBT rights organizations, activists and people associated with rights groups across several Turkish cities.
The organization said police operations between September 12 and 14 targeted seven LGBT rights organizations, two groups supporting people living with HIV, as well as bars and nightclubs in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydın and Mersin.
Human Rights Watch reported that at least 112 people were arrested, with 82 remaining detained under court orders at the time of its September 18 statement. At least 24 of those detained were described as LGBT activists, founders or executives of targeted organizations.
Among the organizations affected was Kaos GL, one of Türkiye’s established LGBT rights groups. Human Rights Watch said 14 officials connected with the organization were arrested in Ankara, with a court ordering seven to remain detained.
The organization also reported arrests involving Lambda Istanbul, Hevi LGBTİ, SPoD and Pozitif-İz.
Turkish authorities have cited criminal allegations including obscenity, sex work, drug-related offenses and alleged violations of association laws in the investigations.
Human Rights Watch said prosecutors have also pursued restrictions on online content connected with LGBT and other rights organizations.
The organization reported that more than 100 people were arrested after gathering outside an Istanbul courthouse on September 15 to protest the crackdown, although those demonstrators were later released.
Human Rights Watch has called for the release of activists and others detained without credible evidence of criminal wrongdoing and for an end to measures restricting legitimate rights organizations.
The Turkish authorities’ stated legal grounds and the human-rights organization’s assessment differ substantially, making the cases part of an ongoing dispute over freedom of association, expression and LGBT rights in Türkiye.
The developments are being closely watched by civil-society organizations as Turkish authorities pursue investigations across several cities.
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Disclaimer
This article reports information published by Human Rights Watch concerning ongoing investigations in Türkiye. Criminal allegations and claims about police conduct are attributed to the relevant sources and should not be interpreted as independently established HRNW findings.
