Across twelve Turkish provinces, police swept through gay bars and activists' homes in a coordinated weekend operation, detaining at least 47 people under the banner of protecting family values. The government calls it the 'My Family is Safe' campaign; human rights organizations call it something older and more familiar — the state deciding which of its people may exist in public. In a country where same-sex relations are not illegal but the president has called LGBTQ+ people 'perverts,' the distance between rhetoric and raid has grown very small.
Turkey detains 47 in raids on gay bars under 'family values' campaign
47 people detained in police raids, with 50 activists from LGBTQ+ organizations arrested and websites/social media accounts blocked by authorities.