Turkish Authorities Detain at Least 150 at Protest over LGBTQ+ Arrests
Police detained at least 150 people after blocking a protest against raids, arrests and website restrictions targeting LGBTQ+ groups, witnesses said.
- On Tuesday, Turkish authorities detained at least 150 people at Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse after police intervened at a demonstration protesting recent detentions targeting LGBTQ+ groups.
- The protest followed sweeping raids under the operation dubbed "My Family is Safe," which the government claims protects children, though rights groups describe it as a widening campaign against the LGBTQ+ community.
- Justice Minister Akin Gurlek reported Sunday that investigations across 15 provinces involved 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses, while a Turkish court jailed 16 people in Izmir on Monday.
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty expressed concern on Tuesday over the arrests, stating that references to "family values" cannot justify restrictions on human rights or civil society work.
- Authorities also blocked websites belonging to LGBTQ+ associations and independent media outlets, including Amnesty International's Turkey branch, while protesters chanted "Long live life in defiance of hate" as police intervened.
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People in Istanbul in Turkey did not want to be silent about the authorities taking action against the LGBTQ community. In their protest they were arrested themselves - journalists and lawyers are also affected.
The anti-LGBTQ+ operation of the Turkish authorities, which began on Sunday, continued on Tuesday with the arrest of dozens of people, including, according to a professional union, two journalists.
The police in Turkey are taking action against several LGBTQ+ activists' associations. There are now protests in Istanbul. A lawyer and journalists are said to have been arrested.
Turkey police detain dozens over pro-LGBTQ Istanbul rally
The protesters had gathered outside Istanbul's main Caglayan courthouse under heavy police surveillance, chanting: "Long live the struggle for freedom!", "Free those detained immediately!" and "Despite hatred, long live life!" The demonstration followed sweeping nationwide raids at the weekend in which police arrested dozens of people as part of what the government says is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative. Turke…
Associated Press News
Police detain dozens at an Istanbul courthouse protest over LGBTQ+ crackdown
Police have detained dozens of demonstrators outside a courthouse in Istanbul. They were demanding the release of LGBTQ+ activists taken into custody during a recent crackdown.
The police operations were carried out in the name of protecting the traditional family.
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