In mid-September 2026, Turkish authorities swept across fifteen provinces, arresting 162 people and raiding LGBTQ+ venues and advocacy offices in an operation the government named 'My Family is Safe.' Framed as a defense of children and constitutional family values, the crackdown is formally tied to President Erdogan's 'Decade of Family and Population' initiative — a campaign that attributes Turkey's falling birthrate not to economic hardship or structural inequality, but to the visibility of a minority group. When a state reaches for a scapegoat rather than a solution, the distance between la
Turkey arrests 162 in LGBTQ+ crackdown under 'family protection' campaign
At least 162 people arrested in police raids targeting LGBTQ+ venues and organizations; access to digital platforms and advocacy networks blocked.