Turkish police have arrested at least 150 people during an LGBT rights demonstration outside a court in Istanbul.
The demonstrators gathered to protest recent police raids targeting LGBT organizations in Turkey. Police prevented the protest from going ahead, and arrests were made after demonstrators began shouting slogans.
The demonstration followed raids in Istanbul and Ankara over the weekend. Police arrested 26 people in Istanbul and another 21 in Ankara.
Websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBT organizations and individuals have also been blocked.
The Turkish government says the measures are aimed at protecting children, families and what it describes as family values. Authorities have called the operation “My Family Is Safe.”
The latest arrests come amid a wider crackdown on LGBT events and organizations in Turkey.
Authorities have banned events such as Istanbul Pride since 2015. Attempts to hold Pride marches despite the restrictions have frequently resulted in arrests and police intervention.
The situation has increased concerns among members of Turkey’s LGBT community, with some fearing that the government’s approach could contribute to more hatred and violence.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has also criticized the measures.
He called on Turkey to release people arrested over their work with human rights and civil society organizations.
According to O’Flaherty, “family values” and “the protection of children” are not in themselves grounds for restricting human rights.
Amnesty International Turkey has also been affected by online restrictions. Its account on X was blocked, prompting the organization to create a new account.
