URGENT! Sign-on Letter: Stop the Criminalisation of the LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey

15 September 2026

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, express our grave concern about the unprecedented and coordinated crackdown on LGBTI+ civil society, human rights defenders and activists in Turkey since 12 September 2026. 

The crackdown started with a court decision blocking access to websites and social media of numerous feminist and LGBTI+ groups, media, student organizations, rights defenders, and activists. On 13 September, police launched operations across several provinces targeting LGBTI+ organisations and human rights defenders. Judicial proceedings have been initiated against more than 160 individuals and 9 associations across 15 provinces. So far, more than 50 LGBTI+ rights defenders, association members, and activists have been detained. The exact number of detainees and the scope of investigations are still being verified.

Members of governing bodies of several associations have been targeted. Offices and homes were searched, and electronic equipment seized. These actions targeted longstanding LGBTI+ and HIV-related organizations, including Kaos GL, Muamma, Mersin 7 Renk, SPoD, HEVİ, Pozitif Yaşam, Listag, Lambda and Pozitif-İz.

We are alarmed by signs that legitimate civil society activities are being falsely labeled as criminal, including accusations related to obscenity, prostitution, drugs, and morality. The prosecution is attempting to create a narrative that LGBTI+ civil society organisations and human rights defenders are part of a criminal organisation. Viewing advocacy, publications, or fundraising as organized crime represents a serious escalation of repression of civic space. We are also worried that lawful domestic and international funding of LGBTI+ groups is being seen as suspicious. Such funding is legal and necessary, already regulated by Turkish law, and should not be considered evidence of criminality. In Turkey, the receipt of funding by civil society organisations (associations and foundations) from abroad and from international organisations is subject to very strict oversight by the General Directorate of Relations with Civil Society, which reports to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Turkey.

The blocking of digital platforms, raids, detentions, equipment seizures, targeting of associations , and scrutiny of lawful funding create a chilling effect on freedom of association, expression, and human rights. These actions are part of a broader anti-gender politics rooted in patriarchy, aiming to control bodies, identities, and relationships. The struggles for LGBTI+ and women’s rights are interconnected, confronting the same patriarchal systems, and attacks on one strengthen attacks on all.

This moment therefore requires more than the protection of fundamental rights. It requires an unequivocal rejection of using “family”, “morality” and gender conformity as instruments to determine whose identities, relationships, speech and freedom of association are considered legitimate.

We call on the authorities in Turkey to:

• immediately release all persons detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and legitimate human rights work, and ensure full respect for due process and access to legal counsel;
• end raids, digital restrictions and other measures that disproportionately obstruct the lawful work of LGBTI+ organisations and human rights defenders;
• ensure that advocacy, publications, organising, membership, donations, fundraising and lawful domestic or international funding are not treated as evidence of criminal activity;
• stop using organised-crime provisions or broadly defined notions of “obscenity”, “morality” or “family” to criminalise LGBTI+ identities, visibility, organising and advocacy;
• end the instrumentalisation of women, children and the “family” to legitimise discrimination against LGBTI+ people, and guarantee that LGBTI+ organisations can operate freely, safely and without intimidation.

We call on international and regional human rights mechanisms, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, diplomatic missions, international civil society organisations, foundations and donors to closely monitor these developments, raise them directly with the Government of Turkey and publicly reaffirm the legitimacy of LGBTI+ human rights work.

We also call international partners to stand firmly with LGBTI+ organisations in Turkey and resist attempts to isolate them through portraying international solidarity and lawful fundraising as suspicious or criminal.

Our bodies, identities, relationships and organisations are not crimes.

Human rights advocacy is not a crime.Solidarity is not a crime.

We stand together with the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey.

Organisations wishing to join this sign-on letter are invited to complete the form by 17 September 2026: https://forms.gle/Cveu46L3dt6rrL29A