Politics
162 People Detained in Government Crackdown on LGBTQ Organizations, 16 Sent to Prison
162 People Detained in Government Crackdown on LGBTQ Organizations, 16 Sent to Prison۔ During a government crackdown against LGBTQ organizations in Turkey, 162 people were detained, while a court ordered 16 of them to be sent to prison. According to international news agency Reuters, the largest operation was carried out in the Turkish city of Izmir, where 16 of 18 LGBTQ individuals were sent to prison, while two others were placed under judicial supervision.
The Chief Prosecutor’s Office said the arrests were made as part of an operation called “My Family Is Safe,” during which action was taken against LGBTQ people in various parts of the country. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said action was taken against 162 suspects, nine organizations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. In addition, 26 people were arrested in Istanbul and 21 in Ankara. The government says the operation aims to protect children and defend family values. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have launched investigations into some individuals over allegations including prostitution, obscenity, and improperly influencing children regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.
Meanwhile, in Izmir, people protesting against the arrests marched through the city center and chanted slogans in support of LGBTQ people. Police used pepper spray to disperse the protesters. Human rights organizations in Turkey described the government’s actions as state discrimination and a politics of fear, while the European Parliament’s representative for Turkey also protested the arrests.
