Over 450 Organisations Demand an End to the Criminalisation of the LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey
More than 450 civil society organisations from 65 countries around the world have called for an immediate end to the crackdown on LGBTI+ organisations, activists and human rights defenders in Turkey.
Read the full statement here or see below.
Signatories to the international letter include internationally well-known organisations like AWID, CHOISIR, CIVICUS, CREA, Femena, Fundación Estudio e Investigación Nujer FEIM, Furia, GLAA, ILGA, IPPF, IWDA, PEN Norway, Women’s Major Group, WUNRN.
The crackdown began on 12 September with sweeping restrictions on the digital platforms of feminist and LGBTI+ groups, media outlets, student organisations and rights defenders. Police operations targeting civil society organisations followed across several provinces.
Seven LGBTI+ rights organisations and two organisations working with people living with HIV have been targeted. Offices and homes have been searched and electronic equipment seized. As of 17 September, 116 people had been detained, including 44 LGBTI+ human rights defenders. Eighty-two people were remanded in pre-trial detention, among them 25 LGBTI+ activists or people affiliated with LGBTI+ organisations.
Peaceful protests against the crackdown in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir were also met with police violence, and hundreds of people were detained across the three cities. In Istanbul alone, police detained more than 100 people before a protest could begin on 15 September. They were held for up to 30 hours, and some were subjected to reverse handcuffing.
The international sign-on letter, titled “Stop the Criminalisation of the LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey,” warns that lawful human rights work including advocacy, organising, publishing and fundraising is being recast as criminal activity. It rejects attempts to use organised-crime provisions and notions of “family,” “morality” and “obscenity” to suppress LGBTI+ visibility and organising.
The signatories demand the immediate release of those detained or imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights and carrying out legitimate human rights work. They call on the authorities to end the raids, digital restrictions and police violence, and guarantee that LGBTI+ organisations can operate freely and safely.
They also urge international and regional institutions, diplomatic missions, civil society organisations, foundations and donors to closely monitor developments, publicly defend the legitimacy of LGBTI+ human rights work, and stand firmly with the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey.
The full sign-on letter and complete list of signatory organisations are attached to this press release.
