Turkish authorities have detained 26 individuals and conducted searches at the offices of six LGBTQ+ organizations as part of a series of raids nationwide, prosecutors announced. The operations, carried out over the weekend, targeted 38 suspects across 12 provinces, resulting in the seizure of drugs, digital devices, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm, according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office.

The crackdown aligns with a government campaign described as an effort to uphold “family values.” This initiative, named “My Family is Safe,” is linked to President Tayyip Erdogan’s broader “Decade of Family and Population” program, which seeks to address concerns over declining birth rates and an ageing population in Turkey.

However, local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups report higher numbers of detentions and additional restrictions. The Ankara-based association Kaos GL stated that at least 50 activists were detained, including more than 10 individuals taken during police raids on their residences. The group also said authorities blocked access to numerous websites and social media accounts connected to LGBTQ+ organizations, activists, and human rights defenders.

The crackdown has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. The Turkish Human Rights Association condemned the operation, describing it as state-led discrimination and an attempt to instill fear and dismantle civil society, rather than a genuine effort to protect families.

In recent years, the Turkish government’s rhetoric and policies have increasingly targeted the LGBTQ+ community, according to rights advocates. The current enforcement actions mark a continuation of this trend, further raising concerns among activists and international observers about the shrinking space for civil rights and freedoms in Turkey.