Turkey Faces Growing Criticism Over LGBTQ+ Raids

A series of police raids and subsequent arrests of LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey has drawn strong condemnation from a broad coalition of domestic civil‑society groups and from Brussels. The operations, which targeted Pride events and community gatherings in several major cities, were carried out under the pretext of public order and anti‑terrorism regulations. According to reports, dozens of activists, performers and supporters were detained, with many facing charges ranging from “public indecency” to “propaganda against the state.”

Turkish NGOs, including the Human Rights Association and the Istanbul LGBTQ+ Alliance, have called the arrests a blatant violation of basic human rights and freedom of expression. In parallel, the European Union’s diplomatic mission in Ankara issued a formal statement urging the Turkish authorities to respect the rights of sexual and gender minorities and to halt the use of anti‑terrorism laws to silence dissent. Brussels also reiterated its commitment to the EU’s values of equality and non‑discrimination, warning that continued repression could jeopardise Turkey’s accession prospects and its standing within the international community.