Turkish courts detain 62 LGBTQ activists after weekend crackdown

Turkish courts have increased the number of LGBTQ activists and supporters held in pre‑trial detention to 62 following a weekend crackdown, a legal‑rights organization reported on Wednesday. The detainees were arrested amid a broader sweep that targeted individuals and groups advocating for LGBTQ rights, prompting criticism from international observers who say the actions reflect a tightening of civil‑liberty protections in the country.

Speaking with France 24’s Mark Owen, Koen Slootmaeckers, Reader in International Politics at City, St George’s, University of London, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan frames the LGBTQ community as a challenge to “the idea of a strong, masculine state.” The scholar added that the president’s rhetoric underscores a broader governmental narrative that positions LGBTQ people as a threat to the nation’s perceived traditional values. The latest arrests highlight ongoing tensions between Turkey’s security policies and the advocacy efforts of human‑rights groups.