Turkey Detains 150 at Istanbul LGBTQ Protest Amid Crackdown

Turkish police detained at least 150 pro-LGBTQ protesters outside Istanbul's Çağlayan courthouse on Tuesday, following a nationwide crackdown on LGBTQ groups that has drawn international criticism. The detentions occurred after police warned the gathering was unauthorized and moved in to disperse the crowd, which had gathered to demand the release of activists arrested in recent raids. The protest followed sweeping operations carried out across Turkey on September 12 and 13 under the government's "My Family Is Safe" campaign. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated the operation targeted 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses. Feminist activist Feride Eralp reported that 162 people had been taken into custody nationwide, with more than 20 arrested and over 30 detained in Istanbul alone. Two journalists, one from the BirGun daily and another from Germany's ARD television, were among those detained while covering the Istanbul rally, according to the Turkish Journalists Union. The union stated on X that it does not accept the criminalization of journalism.