Turkish police raid gay bars, arrest 60 LGBTQ activists

Turkish police conducted coordinated raids on several gay bars and the residences of LGBTQ activists on Sunday, detaining at least 60 individuals, officials said. Authorities described the operation as part of an effort to reinforce “traditional family values,” a stance echoed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly characterized the LGBTQ community as a “deviant movement” of “perverts” and linked it to Turkey’s declining birth rate. The sweeps, which targeted both nightlife venues and private homes, have drawn criticism from human‑rights groups who note a pattern of state‑led harassment against sexual minorities in the country.

In a related interview, FRANCE 24’s Monte Francis spoke with Yildiz Tar, editor‑in‑chief of the LGBTQ platform KaosGL.org, about the impact of the raids and the broader climate of repression. Tar highlighted the community’s concerns over increasing police scrutiny and the chilling effect on activism, while emphasizing the need for international attention to Turkey’s treatment of LGBTQ citizens. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the government’s cultural policies and the rights of minority groups within the nation.