Turkish Authorities Crack Down on LGBTQ+ and HIV Groups in Widespread Raids

Turkish police raid LGBTQ+ organizations, detaining members and blocking websites in a sweeping crackdown ahead of elections.

Editorial Desk

September 13, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Istanbul, Turkey — Turkish authorities launched a sweeping crackdown on LGBTQ+ and HIV support groups early Sunday, conducting simultaneous raids across major cities and detaining dozens of individuals.

The operations, which began at 1 a.m., targeted multiple associations and businesses linked to LGBTQ+ advocacy and HIV awareness. Police broke into offices, raided popular hangouts, and blocked the websites of the affected organizations.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek justified the actions as part of an effort to

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