Turkish police detain 63 in anti-LGBTQ raids across major cities

Turkish police carried out simultaneous raids on several LGBTQ‑focused groups in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other major cities on Tuesday, detaining at least 63 people, officials said. The operations, described by the Interior Ministry as part of a broader effort to enforce public order and investigate alleged violations of existing statutes, targeted community centers, private residences and online meeting spaces linked to the groups.

Human‑rights organisations have called for the release of those detained and for an independent review of the actions, noting that the raids come amid heightened scrutiny of LGBTQ rights in Turkey. Authorities have not released the names of the individuals or detailed the specific charges, but indicated that investigations are ongoing. The police actions are expected to be examined by the courts in the coming weeks, while local advocacy groups continue to monitor the situation.