Turkish Police Detain Dozens at Istanbul LGBTQ+ Protest

Turkish police detain dozens at Istanbul courthouse protest over LGBTQ+ crackdown. Demonstrators demand release of activists detained during sweeping raids.

Editorial Desk

September 15, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Istanbul, Turkey — Turkish police detained dozens of demonstrators who gathered outside a courthouse in Istanbul to protest a recent crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists.

The protest took place after authorities detained multiple members of LGBTQ+ groups, raided association offices, and blocked websites. Police surrounded the demonstrators before detaining them, according to reports.

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Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated the operation, called “My Family is Safe,” aimed to protect children, the institution of the family, and public order. However, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, criticized the actions, calling for the release of those detained for engaging in human rights work.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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