Turkish Police Detain Dozens at Istanbul LGBTQ+ Protest Outside Courthouse
Police detained dozens of protesters outside Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse after they demanded the release of LGBTQ+ activists held in a weekend crackdown.
Turkish police detained dozens of demonstrators outside Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse on Tuesday after they gathered to demand the release of LGBTQ+ activists taken into custody during a sweeping crackdown days earlier.
Officers surrounded the protesters outside the courthouse before moving in to detain them. Video from the scene showed demonstrators being led onto a parked police bus as police waited in front of the building.
Before the detentions, those gathered carried banners reading "Being LGBT+ and organizing is not a crime" and "Release the detainees," and chanted slogans in support of LGBTQ+ rights, including "You cannot stop the (LGBT+) organizing."
The protest followed a crackdown on Sunday in which authorities targeted multiple LGBTQ+ groups and individuals, detaining dozens of members, breaking into association offices and raiding popular hangouts. The organizations' websites were also blocked.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the operation, named "My Family is Safe," was intended to "protect children, the institution of the family, and public order." He said it targeted 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses.
Speaking outside the courthouse, demonstrator Feride Eralp said the ruling power was attempting to blame LGBT+ people for problems it has failed to address. She said the trend was not confined to Turkey, describing a global right-wing, conservative wave of anti-LGBT+ sentiment that presents itself as "domestic and national" while being funded in a highly globalized manner.
Another demonstrator, Ahmet Sait Nursoy, said the community had been in a dangerous period and was now experiencing events it had anticipated for a year and a half. He called for unity and solidarity, adding that he felt angry.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, which has roots in Turkey's Islamic movement, has become increasingly vocal against LGBTQ+ groups as it seeks to consolidate the more conservative elements of its base.