Repression in Turkey: Arrests at demonstrations against LGBTIQ repression

In recent days, the Turkish government has responded to protests against raids and arrests within the LGBTIQ community with brutal police violence and numerous arrests. First in Izmir, then also in Istanbul, people demonstrated in front of court buildings where arrested members of LGBTIQ associations were brought before the judge. In chants they demanded the release of the arrested activists.

The police took massive action against the demonstrators in both cities. The protests were immediately declared illegal, the demonstrators were surrounded and several of them were temporarily arrested. Among those arrested are a reporter from the left-wing newspaper Birgün, Sarya Toprak, and a cameraman from the Istanbul ARD office, Şener Azak.

At least Azak was free again on Wednesday. The journalist Tugba Tekerek was arrested on the night from Sunday to Monday. She made a documentary about the LGBTIQ scene in Georgia. Tugba Tekerek is now in custody.

The total of around 100 people who were arrested in Izmir and Istanbul during the demonstrations are to be released after 24 hours, i.e. on Wednesday or Thursday. However, this does not apply to the arrests and arrests of activists from the LGBTIQ community on Saturday and Sunday.

A total of 71 people were arrested, 26 in Istanbul, 21 in Ankara, 18 in Izmir and 6 in Kuşadası. According to information from legal circles, 29 of these have so far been taken into custody by a judge. The judiciary officially announced that investigations would take place against 162 people, 9 associations and 13 companies, i.e. clubs and bars.

The allegations are “dissemination of obscene content” and “aiding and abetting prostitution”. Since homosexuality itself is still not prohibited, the government and judiciary are trying to target the LGBTIQ community in this detour. Apparently the government is primarily concerned with protecting minors. It is said that young people and children should not come into contact with the community.

That's why the entire repression campaign runs under the absurd name "Security for my family." For years, the LGBTIQ community in Turkey has been increasingly repressed. Pride parades have been completely banned for over ten years and people are supposed to completely disappear from the public eye.

The EU warned on Monday that Turkey should also respect the community's human rights. The left-wing member of the Bundestag Maik Brückner has complained about the silence of the federal government and demanded that gays, lesbians and queer people persecuted in Turkey should receive asylum in Germany.