In mid-September 2026, Turkish authorities swept through Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, arresting LGBTQ+ activists and silencing more than a hundred digital voices in a single weekend — all beneath the banner of family protection. The operation, tied to President Erdoğan's 'Decade of Family and Population' initiative, reveals a recurring tension in modern governance: the use of cultural tradition as both shield and weapon, criminalizing identity through enforcement rather than legislation. Where formal law leaves LGBTQ+ relationships untouched, state practice has moved to erase their presence fr
Turkey's LGBTQ+ crackdown sparks backlash from rights groups and EU
Multiple LGBTQ+ activists were arrested; individuals were taken from their homes at night; digital access to civil society organizations was restricted.