The European Union (EU) expressed deep concern over recent arrests and legal proceedings initiated against LGBTIQ+ individuals, activists, human rights defenders, as well as organizations, companies, and peaceful protesters.
Christian Wigand, spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), stated that the EU is monitoring these developments with apprehension. Meanwhile, the Turkish Minister of Justice, Akin Gürlek, reported that legal actions have been launched against 162 people, nine associations, and 13 companies across 15 provinces under the name of the 'My Family is Safe' operation.
Gürlek clarified that the focus of the operation is not the LGBTIQ+ community (which includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, intersex, queer, and others), but rather individuals allegedly facilitating prostitution or suspected of producing and disseminating obscene content accessible to children.
The EU's diplomatic arm demanded that Turkish authorities ensure compliance with procedural safeguards, the immediate release of any person detained without just cause, the dismissal of unfounded accusations, and an end to any form of intimidation directed at civil society.
Wigand also condemned the blocking of websites and social media accounts, as well as allegations regarding the supposed external funding of several of these entities. According to Ankara, the police investigation is examining financial movements of 'LGBT associations that promote immorality,' detecting funding from large sums by foreign bodies.
The EEAS spokesperson reinforced that international support for civil society is an established practice, warning that pointing to international donors who operate transparently and responsibly could compromise freedom of association, pluralism, and civic space.
Thus, the EEAS requested that Turkey respect the 'fundamental values' inherent in its status as a candidate country for EU accession and an old member of the Council of Europe.
