Dozens arrested in major anti-LGBTQ raids in Turkey
Chronological coverage
First seen14 Sept, 20:57Dozens arrested in major anti-LGBTQ raids in Turkey
Turkish police on Sunday swooped on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ activists, arresting at least 60 people in raids authorities said were aimed at boosting traditional family values, officials and activists said. Turkey's LGBTQ community has frequently been targeted by the government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashing it as a "deviant movement" of "perverts" responsible for the falling birth rate. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis speaks with Yildiz Tar, Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org.
France 24•FRANCE24
Follow-up14 Sept, 21:02'The very existence of LGBTQI people is seen as obscene', Turkish activist says
Turkish police on Sunday swooped on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ activists, arresting at least 60 people in raids authorities said were aimed at boosting traditional family values, officials and activists said. Turkey's LGBTQ community has frequently been targeted by the government, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashing it as a "deviant movement" of "perverts" responsible for the falling birth rate. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis speaks with Yildiz Tar, Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org.
Latest17h agoTurkey detains dozens in crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists and journalists
Protesters teargassed as minister claims widespread raids and arrests under obscenity laws were to ‘protect families’ Turkish authorities have used accusations of obscenity to justify a wave of raids and arrests targeting the LGBTQ+ community, which has grown to include journalists as well as more than 150 arrested during protests against the raids. Starting in the early hours of Sunday, Turkish police carried out simultaneous raids on the offices of LGBTQ+ rights organisations and HIV-advocacy groups in the cities of Istanbul, the capital, Ankara, and the coastal city of İzmir, as well as the cities of Aydın and Mersin. Continue reading...
The Guardian•Ruth Michaelson in Istanbul