More than 450 civil society organizations from 65 countries around the world have called for an immediate end to the crackdown on LGBTIQ+ organizations, activists and human rights defenders in Turkey.
The crackdown began on 12 September with sweeping restrictions on the digital platforms of feminist and LGBTIQ+ groups, media outlets, student organizations and rights defenders. Police operations targeting civil society organizations followed across several provinces.
Seven LGBTIQ+ rights organizations and two organizations working with people living with HIV have been targeted. Offices and homes have been searched and electronic equipment seized.
As of 17 September, 116 people had been detained, including 44 LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders. Eighty-two people were remanded in pre-trial detention, among them 25 LGBTI+ activists or people affiliated with LGBTIQ+ organizations.
Peaceful protests against the crackdown in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir were also met with police violence, and hundreds of people were detained across the three cities. In Istanbul alone, police detained more than 100 people before a protest could begin on 15 September. They were held for up to 30 hours, and some were subjected to reverse handcuffing.
The international sign-on letter, titled “Stop the Criminalization of the LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey,” warns that lawful human rights work including advocacy, organizing, publishing and fundraising is being recast as criminal activity. It rejects attempts to use organized-crime provisions and notions of “family,” “morality” and “obscenity” to suppress LGBTIQ+ visibility and organizing.
The signatories demand the immediate release of those detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights and carrying out legitimate human rights work. They call on the authorities to end the raids, digital restrictions and police violence, and guarantee that LGBTI+ organizations can operate freely and safely.
They also urge international and regional institutions, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations, foundations and donors to closely monitor developments, publicly defend the legitimacy of LGBTQI+ human rights work, and stand firmly with the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey.
The full sign-on letter and complete list of signatory organizations can be found here.
