Turkey Detains Dozens in Nationwide LGBTQ+ Group Raids

Turkish authorities have detained at least 26 people and launched legal proceedings against 162 suspects in a nationwide crackdown on LGBTQ+ groups, which the government says is aimed at protecting family values and children. The operation, dubbed "My Family Is Safe," involved simultaneous police raids across 15 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, targeting the homes, offices, and gathering places of activists and associations. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced the operation on social media, stating that judicial proceedings had been initiated against 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses. He said the actions were part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative, which aims to protect children, the family institution, and social order. Authorities reported seizing drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol, and a firearm during the searches. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office confirmed that 26 suspects were detained in operations across 12 provinces.